John F. Wild

WEST BOYLSTON-John F. Wild, 87, of West Boylston passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2014 in Notre Dame Long Term Care Center. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary M. (Grady) Wild. John leaves three children, Margaret M. Wild of Worcester, John F. Wild, Jr. of West Boylston, and Moira A. and her husband Robert A. Wilmont, II of Lancaster. He was born in New Haven, CT the son of John and Maria A. (Schmidt) Wild and grew up in Wallingford, CT. He graduated from Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford and Yale University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Physics. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Anchorage, AK shortly after WW II.

John was a professor of physics at Trinity College in Hartford, CT and then for many years at WPI in Worcester, retiring in 1991. He was a member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. He was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in West Boylston. He served as a judge and later as chief judge of the Worcester Regional Science and Engineering Fair. He served a term as treasurer of Cub Scout Pack 151 in West Boylston. He enjoyed music, astronomy, carpentry, movies, gardening, baking, photography, long walks, vacations with his family, and following the New England sports teams. He was also known for his wicked sense of humor.

The family would like to thank the staff of Notre Dame Long Term Care Center for their compassionate care.

John's funeral will be held on Saturday, November 15th, from FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 1 W. Boylston St. with a Mass at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester. Visiting Hours are Friday, November 14th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org) or Pat Brody Shelter for Cats, P.O. Box 142, Lunenburg, MA 01462 (catsontheweb.org). To place an online condolence, please visit