John W. "Jack" Saunders, 84, of Dartmouth died Saturday September 1, 2012 at home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Rosemary F. (Martin) Saunders.
Born and raised in New Bedford, the son of the late Capt. Herman R. and Matilda M. (O'Reilly) Saunders, he had lived in Dartmouth since 1964.
Mr. Saunders was a well-known and well-loved figure on the New Bedford waterfront for many years. He was the founder and President of Pier Oil Company in New Bedford for 60 years until his retirement last year. One of his proudest achievements was the construction of the first double-hulled barge in New Bedford.
He was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Whaling City Post 3196 Veterans of Foreign Wars. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife; five daughters, Luanne Lee and her husband Jim of Virginia, Joanne Costa and her husband Gilly of New Bedford, Jackie Shepley of West Wareham, Lynne Fontes of New Bedford, and Kathy DaCosta and her husband Tom of New Bedford; three brothers, Herman R. Saunders of Dartmouth, Daniel J. Saunders of Fall River, and Thomas F. Saunders of New Bedford; two sisters, Mary M. Welch of Lakeville and Joan M. Liarikos of Rochester; thirteen grandchildren, John Lee and his wife Janette, Michelle Lee, Jennifer Watson and her husband Jacob, Heather, Trisha, and Cody Randall, Zachary and Lily Shepley, Nathan Fontes, Kaylie Aguirre, and Madison, Sydney, and Ally DaCosta; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Katherine F. Sullivan, Albert E. Saunders, Paul F. Saunders, and Richard T. Saunders.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 3-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Community Nurse and Hospice Care, P.O. Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.