John Jaw
May 31, 2026
John Jaw, a longtime resident of Lexington, MA. passed away on May 31st. 2026 after a battle with heart disease. He was 72.
John was born on December 20th, 1953 in Tainan, Taiwan. At that time, Tainan was still quite rural. John enjoyed playing sports in the countryside, especially his favorite game of basketball.
At National Cheng Kung University, he studied Industrial Engineering and was a true 4-sport superstar in handball, track and field, rugby, and of course, basketball, serving as team captain and starting point guard. He was a born leader with a fierce competitive streak.
On the court, John’s intense focus and demeanor never wavered, regardless of whether it was in college or father-son games at Chinese Family Camp. One particular student remarked that finally beating John one-on-one at Chinese Sunday School was the proudest moment of his basketball life.
After graduation, John worked at Songshan Airport (Taipei) as an air traffic controller. While there, he landed more than just planes: he met his future wife, Betty. They would eventually move together to the US when John continued his education at UT Arlington and later M.I.T.
Upon finishing a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, John was recruited by the dean of the department to work at his own company, Flight Transportation Associates. Their team consulted on takeoff and landing routes for the newly established Taoyuan International Airport. Perhaps you can appreciate that the next time you are touching down safely in Taoyuan.
As his family grew in the mid-80s, John decided to become an entrepreneur. He started a successful company, Carpets on Wheels, providing carpets and installation in the greater Boston area for four decades. His longtime customers appreciated his work ethic, fairness, and reliability. His sons appreciated when they were no longer needed to help with warehouse deliveries.
In the late 90s, John was introduced to Falun Dafa through a friend. As accomplished as he had been in sport, academics, and business, this was something entirely new and different. Feeling a spiritual calling, he dedicated himself to absorbing its teachings and becoming involved in the local community. He became a trusted resource to his fellow practitioners both old and new, always willing to lend a helping hand.
John will be dearly missed by his loving family and friends, loyal coworkers and customers, and devoted fellow practitioners. He is survived by his sister Wanzhi, wife Betty, sons Darcy and Alan, and daughter Leslie.
A wake to commemorate John will be held June 4th, 4-7 PM at this location:
Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home?29 Governors Ave, Medford, MA
John will be buried in a separate ceremony on June 5th at Rural Valley Cemetery in Cuddelbackville, NY.
The Jaw family politely requests that guests refrain from any gifts, in accordance with John’s wishes.
For additional information, please visit, www.magliozzifuneralhome.com.