John "Jack" Driscoll Jr.'s Obituary
Retired CMS John Henry Driscoll Jr., “Jack” Driscoll, age 77, of Stoneham, MA passed away at 2:18PM on Sunday, February 14th, 2021 at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA.
The presentation above was written by his granddaughter, JROTC Cadet Anya Lester. Her JROTC class assignment was to select and interview a veteran and write about him. She chose her Grandpa, and we are so grateful he was well enough and able to participate in this assignment before he passed away. He was so proud and was literally moved to tears when he read the completed assignment. We think this is a beautiful way to remember him and to share who he was.
John Henry Driscoll Jr., “Jack”, was born on March 13th, 1943, in Stoneham, MA, the oldest son of John Henry and (Mary) Dorothy Driscoll. Jack graduated from Stoneham High School in 1961. He enlisted in the United States Air Force immediately following graduation and completed basic training in September of 1961.
John Henry Driscoll Jr. married the former Shizuno Hagiwara of Maebashi-Shi, Gunma-ken Japan on October 26th, 1967. They were together for 53 years and 4 months. They have two beloved daughters, Jo Anne Marie and Donna Jean.
Jack was a patriotic veteran who loved his country and was fiercely proud to serve his country throughout his entire US Air Force career, retiring as a distinguished Weapons Load Crew Chief. To his family, he was so much more than Chief Driscoll, he was also a devoted husband, beloved dad, and cherished grandpa. He absolutely loved fresh water and salt water fishing and being in the great outdoors whenever possible. He never met a bass or striper he didn’t like, especially the “keepers”. He adored and was immensely proud of his twin granddaughters Anya and Alea Lester. We are so grateful for the precious times they shared, the memories they created together and their unbreakable bond.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Driscoll Sr., (Mary) Dorothy Driscoll, his older sister Patricia Walsh, and younger brother Robert Driscoll. He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Shizuno Driscoll; his youngest daughter Donna Driscoll and granddoggie Zoe of Sunnyvale, CA; his oldest daughter Jo Anne Lester and son-in-law (the son that dad always wanted) Jeffrey Lester and their twin daughters Anya and Alea Lester of Wake Forest, NC, and step-grandchildren Brittany and Bryant Lester of Bunn, NC; his brother George Michael Driscoll of Cape Cod, MA; and his twin brothers William (Bill) Driscoll of Manchester, NH, and Dennis Driscoll of Middleboro, MA.
Jack was a fighter until the very end, and the loss of him and the immense void he left is impossible to describe or fill. We will miss all of the corny dad jokes, the perfectly timed cards sent on every special occasion, the precisely jam-packed USPS packages filled with goodies, the calls and thoughtful messages to remind us he was worried about us, and to “please call back as soon as you get this message”, the abundant joy and exuberance whenever we dined at one of his favorite restaurants or whenever a ribeye steak was on the menu, his affinity for sweets-especially chocolate, and yes, even the Axe body spray. We will miss looking outside the window and seeing him fishing in his favorite spot behind our house, exuberantly holding up the "keepers", and how he enjoyed riding with us in carpool to drop Anya and Alea off and pick them up after school.
Sometimes I look out my back window and can still see him fishing in his favorite spot, and my heart aches.
Dad, your family will try to keep your legacy alive by living our best lives and celebrating yours, as beautifully imperfect as it was. We will cherish and love you always, and miss all the things that were inherently you. We love you, dad.
“May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.”
-Irish Blessing
*Due to COVID-19 Restrictions, there will be a private ceremony with immediate family in Steilacoom, WA at a future date to celebrate his life and share cherished memories.
What’s your fondest memory of John?
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Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
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