Matthew J. Ring

Merrimack, New Hampshire - Matthew John Ring Jr., loving father, grandfather, and brother, of Waltham, died Thursday March 29, 2018 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, at age 84.

Born on November 24, 1933 Matthew (Matt) was the son of the late Irish immigrants (County Cork) Matthew J. and Catherine (Hayes) Ring.

Raised and educated in Newton, he graduated from Our Lady's High School and earned his Bachelor's degree in Advertising and Marketing from Northeastern University in 1957. And later, earned his Master's in Business Administration also from Northeastern in 1964.

While at Northeastern, he was a member of the Army ROTC program and a brother of Phi Beta Alpha Fraternity. Matt utilized his love for reading and writing when he served as a copy and sports editor for the school's newspaper, The Northeastern News. After graduation, he served his country honorably in the United States Army as a Lieutenant.

Matt married Shirley A. Pettengill of Watertown in Saint Theresa's Church in Watertown on June 20, 1959. They were married for 45 years when she passed on April 11, 2004.

He worked as a Director of Government Contracts for Arthur D. Little Inc. in Cambridge for over 20 years before retiring.

He was an active member of Saint Jude Parish. There he served as a lector, CCD teacher, and President of the Couples Club. He also played guitar at the folk masses.

With a lifelong interest in law and politics, Matt ran for the position of City Councilor of Ward 4 in Waltham. He was a board member of the Waltham Housing Authority and the Watertown Boys Club.

Matt was an avid golfer. He enjoyed membership at Ponemah Green in Amherst, New Hampshire with his son Matthew J. Ring III.

His family was the most important thing in the world to him. Matt served as a Boy Scout leader, basketball coach, Red Blazers youth football coach, and in many other of his children's endeavors.

Matt enjoyed a multitude of hobbies. His first love being, sailing on his sail boat, "The Irish Rover". His other interests included a love of sports, reading, writing, swimming, running, gardening, photography, and painting.

In addition to his wife, Shirley, he is predeceased by his son, Matthew J. Ring III who died in May 2016 and his brother, William Frederick Ring.

He leaves his daughters, Margaret E. 'Peggy' Mescall and her husband Jim of Framingham, Sheila A. Oliva and her husband Billy of Waltham and Elizabeth M. Shaughnessy and her husband David of Natick; his daughter-in-law, Stephanie A. Ring, wife of his late son, Matthew J. Ring III of Merrimack, New Hampshire; his grandchildren, Victoria and Joseph Mescall, Katelyn, Emily and Stephen Ring, Sarah and Matthew Oliva, Patrick, Daniel and Ryan Shaughnessy; his siblings, Joseph Ring (Barbara) of Naples, Florida, Josephine O'Brien of Colorado, and Eileen Snedeker (Jack) of Waltham and many nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Matthew's life by gathering for calling hours at The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, April 2nd from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114 or online at https://secure.massgeneral.org/cancer.