Obituary of Kenneth Jay

Kenneth Earl Jay, a teacher, guidance counselor, referee, umpire, and family man passed away on Monday morning at the Winchester Hospital. He was 80 years old. Ken was born in Cambridge, the son of the late Jonathan and Glorianna Jay. He lived his first 15 years in Cambridge and then in 1951 his family moved to Burlington. Ken finished his high school education at Burlington High School, Class of 1954. He earned his Bachelor’s in Education in 1958 from Boston University and his Master’s in Education from Boston State. During his college years he served 8 years in the Coast Guard Reserves. He started working in the Burlington School system in 1958 as a teacher of social studies and other subjects. He later worked as a guidance counselor at Francis Wyman Middle School, and Marshall Simonds Middle School. He spent over 40 years in the Burlington School System helping students to solve personal, social and academic problems. He was always available to listen to his students, give advice, and keep the internal and external pressures pushed upon them from impacting their social and academic development. After the school bell sounded, Ken would be off to the soccer and baseball fields to referee and umpire. He was a life member of the Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association and was a member of the New England Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association. Ken was also a life member of the Greater Lowell Umpire Association where he served on the Executive Board, audit committee, and was also a past president. Ken was awarded in 1993 a ring symbolizing his 25 years of dedication to the umpire association. He refereed and umpired high school and college soccer and baseball games throughout New England. He believed in allowing the athletes to develop and have fun in the sports, but not at the expense of safety and fair play. Ken was devoted father and husband. He had been lovingly married to his wife Diana for 56 years. They had a special bond and Saturday nights were date nights where they would go to church and then out to dinner at one of their many favorite dining destinations. It wasn’t the easiest thing to live in a house filled with women, but Ken did his best to run the household and watch out for 'His Girls'. He was there to guide them in their education, life choices, finances, and whatever challenges they encountered growing up and becoming adults. He loved animals, especially his black cat Lexi, and Donna’s boxer Maggie. He had a great circle of friends whom he golfed and socialized with weekly. Ken simply enjoyed his family, maintaining his home, working in his yard, woodworking and being outdoors. His influence, guidance, and wisdom he has shared with his family and students enriched their lives and helped them become strong and contributing members of the community. Ken was the beloved husband of 56 years of Diana (Mansfield). He was the loving father of Jacqueline Jay of Tewksbury, Judianne Daniels & her husband James of Canton, GA and Donna Jay of Burlington & her fiancé David Mann of Littleton. He was the brother of the late Robert Jay & his wife Lois Jay of Burlington. Ken was the proud grandfather of Jessica & Nikolaus Daniels. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at Noon. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorial’s in Ken’s name may be made to People Helping People, PO Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803.