John P. "Jack" Souza, 82, of Starknaught Heights, passed away Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Addison Gilbert Hospital after a prolonged battle with leukemia. He was the beloved husband of the late Clementina K. "Tina" Souza, who passed away in June 2009.
Born on February 18, 1930, Jack was the son of the late Joseph F. and Joanne (Boudreau) Souza. A lifelong resident of Gloucester, he was a graduate of Gloucester High School class of 1949, where he was a standout athlete in both football and track. He also attended the University of Southern Mississippi on a track scholarship.
Jack proudly served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Columbus during the Korean War. He was employed by the United States Postal Service in Gloucester for over twenty-five years before retiring in 1992. He was a Civil War historian and an avid golfer, who loved caring for his numerous pets, which included cats, dogs and birds. His sense of humor and laughter will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Jack is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Len Lesperance, with whom he shared a close relationship; two grandchildren, John Christopher Segrest and his wife Katherine, and Rebecca Rhoden and her husband Ryan; and three great-grandchildren, John and Emma Segrest and Nicholas Rhoden all of Orlando, Florida. He is also survived by three nephews and a niece: Patrick D. Conlon and his wife Anna; John E. Conlon and his wife Carol; and Jacqueline Lovasco and her husband Sebastian, all of Gloucester; and Philip J. Conlon and his wife Arlene, of Exeter, NH; ten grand-nephews and grand-nieces and nine great grand-nephews and grand-nieces. He was also predeceased by his brother Joseph F. Souza, his sister Marilyn K. Conlon, niece Nancy Johanson and nephew Joseph F. Souza.
Jack's funeral service with military honors will be held on Tuesday in the Calvary Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to The Jimmy Fund, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115 or http://www.jimmyfund.org/.