WEST BOYLSTON-John F. "Jack" McCormick, III, 74, of West Boylston died Friday, March 26 in UMASS Medical Center.
Jack was born in West Boylston son of John F. and Dorothy H. (Robinson) McCormick and graduated from West Boylston High School in 1965 and Worcester Teachers College in 1970. He served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
Jack has worked for his beloved Town of West Boylston since the age of 14 in one capacity or another. At a young age with his friends he founded the West Boylston Civil Defense Auxiliary Fire Department out of frustration of not being old enough to be a firefighter. After eight years, he would go on to officially join the Department in 1968. He was a West Boylston Fire Fighter for 26 years and a later served as a Boylston Firefighter for 6 years. He was also a 40 year EMT for the Town and was proud to be certified nationally as the 3151 EMT in the country. Jack other main career was that of a dedicated educator for over 30 years at Major Edwards Elementary School, where he taught his love of Science to 4th and 5th graders and ran the after-school Lego Program for many years.
Jack served 30 years as a Trustee to Mount Vernon Cemetery a job he was appointed to by the Town when his father past away, which he also served in the same capacity. He was the Grand Marshall for the last 27 years for the Town Memorial Day Parade, the Past Commander and Graves Registration Officer for the Harold N. Keith American Legion Post #204 and the former Athletic Trainer for West Boylston and Holy Name High School's Football Teams. He was responsible for raising money for the Town Gazebo, the Flag Pole on the Common and the Fire Departments first jaws of life. He also coordinated Saturday Nights Concerts on the common and was one of the main organizers for the Town Bicenntial Committee. Jack was also an active member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church where he served as an Eucharistic minister. In his spare time, he loved going on cruises with his beloved wife, Pauline A. (Taffe) McCormick of 32 years who sadly passed away in 2018.
Jack leaves two siblings, Virginia "Ginnie" Aiello and her husband, Dennis and Kevin McCormick and his wife, Kathy all West Boylston; two nieces, Katie McCormick and Tara Wardrop and her husband Michael all of Scarborough, ME and a grandnephew Evan and two grand-nieces, Brook and Julia.
Visiting Hours are Tuesday, March 30 from 5 to 7pm at Fay Brothers Funeral Home, 1 West Boylston St. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday at 11am in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the West Boylston Fire and Ambulance Fund, 39 Worcester St., West Boylston, 01583.