John Francis “Jack” Sheehan

John Francis “Jack” Sheehan, 87, was surrounded by his four children on Saturday July 7, 2018 when he passed away.

The life-long resident grew up in North Weymouth, graduating high school as class president in 1949. He was the son of Frederick ‘Fred’ Mortimer and Mary (Keaveney) Sheehan. Jack’s wife of 33 years, Barbara (Frazier) Sheehan predeceased him in 1991. They raised four children. Jack leaves his daughter, Maryellen Sheehan, of Weymouth; his son, James Sheehan, of Weymouth; his daughter Anne Marie Sheehan and partner David Hughes of Shirley; and his daughter Eileen Chandler, and her husband Stephen Chandler of Hanover. Jack served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War, 1951 to 1954. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State Teachers College in 1958 and then went on to receive 30 credits beyond his master’s degree. He taught civics at the former Bicknell Junior High School in North Weymouth. He also was Executive Director to the Council on Aging for the City of Quincy and served as an aide to Gov. Foster Furcolo. He was involved in his town and at the state level as a member of the Democratic State Committee and a Weymouth Town Meeting Member. He returned to teaching social studies at Scituate public schools, where he later became a guidance counselor. During this time, he applied his extraordinary people skills to mentoring youth in Boston, working at non-profit organizations that included the Kennedy Center, Action for Boston Community Development’s Summer Works Program, and the Boys and Girls Club. When Jack retired from academia, he served on the Weymouth Board of Assessors and became a fitness buff as an active member of the Weymouth Club where he met many new friends. Jack was a faithful communicant of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in South Weymouth.   It was often said that: “Everybody knows Jack.”  On warm summer evenings he often strolled Nantasket Beach before dusk, loved vacationing in Florida, and attended numerous social events with his many friends and family members.

He was grandfather to Alexandra Sheehan, Ruth Russell, Colin and Kevin Chandler and step-grandfather to Elyssa Hughes.  He was the uncle of numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Frederick Sheehan and sister Kathryn Flaherty. He was predeceased by close cousin, John D. “Jackie” Sheehan; and his close companion from 2001, until her death in 2013, Yvonne C. McGrory.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Thursday 4-8 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital). Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Friday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church, Weymouth at 10 AM. Burial in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. Donations in memory of Jack may be made to Weymouth Scholarship Fund Committee, Weymouth Town Hall, 75 Middle St., Weymouth, MA 02189.