John B. Mandile

Boynton Beach, FL – Mr. John B. Mandile, of Boynton Beach, Florida, formerly of Waltham and Whitinsville, died Friday. December 7, 2012. He was 83.

Giovanni, his name at birth and baptism and true to his Italian ancestry, was lovingly known to family and friends as John. He was born in Waltham on April 8, 1929 one of twelve children born to the late Francesco and Anna (Sidoti) Mandile. On January 14, 1950 he married Catherine A. "Kay" Hayes in Sacred Heart Church. They lived many years in Waltham and in Whitinsville, MA before retiring to Florida over 15 years ago.

John served his country honorably in the Merchant Marines and United States Army at the end of World War II. He learned watch making and repair at the Waltham Watch Company watchmaking school. As he finished watchmaking school the company was closing. His skill and background with small high precision parts gave him an aptitude for precision machining. He worked for over 20 years in the Swiss screw machine industry. An entrepreneurial drive led him to open his own company, JMB Swiss Screw Company in Waltham in 1969 and later Swissturn/USA, from which he retired in 1997.

John enjoyed life. Vacations to Onset were a regular part of each summer. Travel to warm places, gardening, cooking and, for many years, weekly poker and blackjack games with family and friends brought him much happiness.

His wife, Kay died January 7, 2012. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Giovanni (who died before John was born), Frank, Domenic, Joseph, Salvatore, Lorenzo, Alfred, and Vincenzo Mandile, Julia Burke, Nancy Mills, and Mary Kaznocha.

He leaves his children, Kathryn M. Harrison and her husband, Lincoln, of North Berwick, Maine, Michael V. Mandile and his wife, Cynthia Barshov-Mandile, of Conway, Kenneth J. Mandile and his wife, Diane, of Webster and Debra A. Mandile and her partner, Dawn Dimodana, of Newburyport, eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember John's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, December 14th from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02115.