Obituary of John C. Madden

John C. Madden, a retired Belmont Firefighter, passed away unexpectedly at the Massachusetts General Hospital on Thursday, March 27, 2014. The beloved husband of Ellen F. (Sheehey) he was 61 years old. John was born in Boston. He was raised in Belmont and was the son of Anne Madden and the late John C. “Dinny” Madden. John was a 1970 graduate of Belmont High School. He attended Boston Architectural College and Massachusetts Bay Community College and earned an Associates Degree. He devoted his career as Belmont Firefighter. He spent 28 years with the force and retired as a Lieutenant. It was an honor for John to wear the uniform and serve the residents of Belmont. John, like his fellow brother firefighters, would not hesitate to run toward a fire as others run away and would not hesitate to risk his wellbeing for someone in harm’s way or protect a fellow firefighter. Some of John’s happiest and most memorable memories were shared with his fellow firefighters. As a firefighter, one becomes very aware of how quickly someone’s life can be changed by some unexpected event or accident. At home, John was active in the community and his family. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Moose Lodge. He supported those organizations in both their social and charitable events. He had a great devotion to his family. He and his wife Ellen were married for 38 years. They truly loved sharing their lives together. They enjoyed going out to eat, travelling all over the United States and the world. You have to have a special relationship to spend 3 months with your wife in a car and sleeping in a camper traveling cross country. He was a supportive and caring father. He encouraged his children to be independent, but never to forget your family and friends. He absolutely loved having his grandsons. He would spend all day with them and love it. He was there when they got off their school bus, took them shopping, or adventures, or just had them help work on some type of project. Michael and Ethan were the “Apple of his Eye!” John was a big kid at heart. He loved his toys and had many of them over the years. He loved his cars and had a number of corvettes and a Jaguar that he polished and pampered. He restored his 70’s dump truck and displayed it in Burlington Truck Day at the Burlington Common. He like his cars clean and was one of Triton Car Wash’s best customers. It wasn’t unusual for one of children to stop by for a visit and John would disappear with their car to get it washed. He loved trains, new and old. He collected toy trains and would take train rides to Old Orchard Beach and other destinations. He loved his life, family, friends, and he will be sorely missed. John was the devoted husband of Ellen F. (Sheehey) Madden. He was the loving father of Shaun Madden of Burlington and Kara Madden of St. Croix US Virgin Island and her fiancé Michael Scarano. He was the son of Anne Madden of Belmont and the late John C. Madden. He was the brother of Denise Madden-Smith of Belmont and her husband Chris Smith. He was the loving and proud grandfather of Michael & Ethan Madden of Burlington. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Tuesday, April 1 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Monday 4-8 p.m. Memorials in John’s name may be made to Lieutenant Walsh – Firefighter Kennedy Memorial Fund, Boston Firefighters Credit Union, 60 Hallet St., Dorchester, MA 02124.