John H. Rives

WORCESTER-John H. Rives, 63, of Worcester passed away Saturday, November 22 at home, surrounded by his family.


He leaves his wife of 16 years, Linda A. Waldron; a son, Clay Harlan Rives and his wife, Emily S. Rives of Boston; a daughter, Tammy Rives Smolansky and her husband, Nicholas J. Smolansky of Manhattan, NY; a sister, Peach R. Warren of Hopedale; a brother, Peter W. Rives of Gilford, NH and many nieces and nephews. He was born in Worcester, son of Reginald W.W. and Thelma (Leach) Rives and graduated from Saint George's School in Middletown, RI. He attended the University of Rhode Island and was a graduate of the NAWCC School of Horology in Columbia, PA.


John was devoted to the profession and passion of his life: clock repair and restoration. He was a mechanic, millwright and clock maker, working out of his clock shop at home in Worcester for many years. John was responsible for restoring and maintaining many city owned, public, private and tower clocks throughout the Northeast. He was responsible for the weekly winding of the Worcester City Hall tower clock for the last 15 years. The Mayor of Worcester recently awarded John a key to the city for his years of service.

John was a devoted member of the All Saints Church Choir and was previously a member of the Worcester Chorus. He was an avid runner, completing 14 marathons, and he was the running coach at Notre Dame Academy (NDA), Worcester, for 13 years. John was elected to the NDA Hall of Fame for coaching in its inaugural year. He also taught and certified hundreds of lifeguards at the YWCA in Worcester. John sat on the board of directors of Wachusett Greenways and volunteered many hours on the rail trails.


A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 29 at 2:30 PM in All Saints Church, 10 Irving Street. Burial will be private in Rhode Island. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to All Saints Church, 10 Irving St., Worcester, 01609 or to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift. Arrangements in the care of Callahan~Fay and Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street.