Obituary of John M. Anderson

John M. “Jack” Anderson, a retired Electrical Engineer passed away on Tuesday morning, April 4, 2017 at the age of 83. Jack was the eldest of four sons born to Francis and Ruth Anderson and was raised in North Adams, Massachusetts. Jack played football for Drury High School, where he met and dated a cheerleader named Anne. Following his graduation from high school, Jack enlisted in the Navy for 3 years during the Korean War. Jack was very proud of his service in the Navy, serving from August of 1951 until June of 1954. As an Aviation Electronics Technician Third Class, Jack worked on an Air Anti-Submarine Squadron, and particularly enjoyed flying on and off aircraft carriers. He was offered admittance to pilot training school, but accepted his National Defense Service Medal and Navy Occupation Service Medal and was discharged. Jack had other plans. Returning to North Adams, Jack and Anne were married on September 4, 1954. Their first 4 years of marriage were spent at the University of Massachusetts where Jack worked to earn his BS Degree in Electrical Engineering with assistance from the GI Bill Upon graduation from UMass, Jack was hired by a division of RCA. He and Anne moved to New Jersey, where he continued postgraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his Master’s in Engineering. Transferring to Burlington in 1962 with his growing family, Jack spent almost 35 years with RCA (later acquired by GE and Lockheed Martin) as an electrical engineer and program manager. He worked on radar and guidance systems to be used in aerospace and defense projects. Jack traveled worldwide in connection with his career, including Israel, Vietnam, California, and Washington D.C., frequently working on classified projects. He was also a member of the Tau Beta Pi, the electrical engineering honor society at University of Massachusetts and the Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Association. Jack had a number of interests over the years, including skiing and later, golf. He was a voracious reader, particularly enjoying history, poetry, and anything related to science. He was a member of the Jaycees in Burlington and was instrumental in starting Burlington’s Pop Warner Football program. He was a devoted and active parishioner at St. Malachy’s since its’ founding in 1964, serving as a Lecter and religious teacher over the years. Jack and Anne loved their adopted town, and made many friends through church, school and work. He and his Anne shared their love of travel, including destinations across the United States, Europe, Israel, Thailand, Egypt, and Japan. They both savored the wonders of the world, different cultures, lifestyles, and food. Jack was a man who was dedicated to his family and friends. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Anne, for 63 years. As a father, he provided for the education of his four children, and as a grandfather, proudly tracked the achievements of his nine grandchildren. Upon his retirement, he joined fellow retirees in an unofficial group called the Romeos (Retired Old Men Eating Out). They gathered every Friday morning to discuss any topic and solve the problems of the world. Jack was the beloved husband of Anne C. (Lefebvre) Anderson. He was the loving father of Kathleen Rogers & her husband James of N. Falmouth, Timothy & his wife Jacquie of West Linn, OR, Paul & his wife Lorraine of Medway, and Patricia Capobianco & her husband Anthony of Tampa, FL. He was the brother of Alfred of North Adams, Steven of Ford City, PA, and late Neil. Jack was the proud grandfather of Jake & Ted Rogers, Hanna, Gabriel, Zachary, & Jay Anderson and Christina, Carly, & Anthony Capobianco. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Saturday, April 8 at 8:30 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, Burlington at 9:30 a.m. Visiting hours Friday at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. The interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jack’s name may be made to VNA of Middlesex East, 607 North St., Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880 or St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington, MA 01803. Fo