John Joseph Leary

John Joseph Leary, 88, a resident of Natick for 60 years, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on September 6, 2025. For 50 years, he was the beloved husband of the late Judith Christine Leary.

Born in Boston, the son of the late Thomas John (“Jack”) Leary and Cecilia McNutt and the youngest of five children, Mr. Leary was raised in the Boston area. He attended Boston College High School and graduated from Northeastern University with a business degree. He was an ROTC member and served as a first lieutenant/commanding officer in the prestigious US Army 51st Signal Corps (E Company) and was deployed from 1962 to 1963 to Ui Jongbu during the Korean Conflict. There he oversaw about 250 military personnel; he also photographed and painted watercolors of the people and landscapes as a hobby. Mr. Leary married his wife in 1959 and moved to the 1st Army Headquarters at Fort Jay, Governors Island, NY.

Leaving the Army and moving to Natick in 1965, Mr. Leary’s professional life transitioned into successful Sales leadership roles across insurance and high-tech industries, including advanced CAD-CAM systems, and at well-known companies, such as John Hancock, Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC) and a Xerox division.

Mr. Leary took pride in do-it-yourself home repairs in the two houses he owned in Natick. He was a skilled carpenter and created furniture for his children. Because he played ice hockey in college, he created ice skating rinks in his backyards for the neighborhood children. He enjoyed family vacations in Cape Cod and Ogunquit, Maine. His youngest son was a Motocross racer for several years, so Mr. Leary accompanied him throughout New England. His main hobby was designing and developing kite reels and kites.

In his retirement years, he loved taking care of his granddaughter; cooking, especially French Onion soup; birdwatching in his own backyard; listening to country music, especially Johnny Cash; grocery shopping at Roche Bros; and watching professional sports, including his favorite New England Patriots. He was a prolific writer, even working on his autobiography. He read daily his Sunday Missal and two Bibles, marking up his favorite passages. He often visited Fatima Shrine in Holliston and painted religious banners, with some designed in kite shapes. One banner reads: “The wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit blowing among us.”

Mr. Leary is survived by his devoted children, Kevin of Dracut, Susan and Christopher both of Natick, and Brian of Westborough; his cherished grandchildren, Hannah, Sean and Colton.

The private family funeral is being held at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) NATICK on TUESDAY, September 16, 2025, at 11:30 AM. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery.

For online guestbook, please visit: www.everettfuneral.com

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