John E. Colby, Jr.

BOYLSTON- John E. Colby, Jr., 77, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 8th at his home with his wife Pam by his side. He was born on January 25, 1948, the eldest of six children of Jack and Geraldine (Murphy) Colby. He was raised and has lived in Worcester County all his life. John graduated from Worcester Boys Trade School in the Auto Mechanics program.

In July of 1965, he then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After boot camp, he was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for artillery training. Next, he was stationed at Camp Delmar in California, where he taught landing vehicles tracked [LVT] crews on the operation of the 105mm howitzer. John rose quickly through the ranks and became one of the youngest noncommissioned officers in the US Marine Corps. He was promoted to crew chief on an LVT-H -6 and deployed to Vietnam. In May of 1967, he was seriously wounded in combat at Con Thien, Vietnam. In 1968, he was honorably retired from the United States Marine Corps and was a recipient of a Purple Heart. He was a life member of the Marine Corps League, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion. In 1968, he went to work for the America Group companies, first for American Variable Annuity, where he became a Registered Representative of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Next, for Hanover Insurance as a Commercial Property Underwriter. Later, John joined his brother, Richard, in the retail/wholesale automobile business.

John was a lifelong boater. He and his wife Pam kept boats on lake Winnipesaukee for over 35 years. Some of his best summer vacations were spent relaxing on his boat with a drink, family and friends. He loved hosting Sunday Patriots football games, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. John also always loved spending time with his children and grandchildren in the cabin in upstate NY.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Pamela (Brophy) Colby; his son Sean D.Colby and his wife Maria of Rutland, MA, his daughter Jessica M. Billitier and her husband Ron, of Rochester, NY; four grandchildren, Jack, Colby Grace, Avery and Evan; three siblings, Patricia O’Connell and her husband William of Charlton, Richard Colby and his wife Michelle of Worcester and Christine Patrick of Sag Harbor, NY; and nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Brian and Gerald Colby, predeceased him.

Visiting Hours are Tuesday, April 15th from 10am-Noon, with Words of Remembrance being shared by family members at 11:30 am at Fay Brothers Life Celebration Home, 1 West Boylston St., West Boylston. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Pine Grove, Cemetery, Boylston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to UMASS Memorial Health in support of the Hospital at Home Program at www.donate.umassmemorial.org or to Veterans Inc. of Worcester at www.veteransinc.org