DANVERS: John Richard “Jack” Coombs, 82, died peacefully, Saturday, December 8, 2012 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with Mesothelioma. He is survived by Lois Ann Coombs and their ten children.
Born in Peabody on December 9, 1929, he was the son of the late Alfred and Rita (Nelson) Coombs. John was a 1948 graduate of Peabody High and excelled as a three sport athlete in hockey, football and baseball. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1948 and served on the USS Wasp in the Korean War as a Certified Interior Communication Specialist and Electrician 3rd Class. John received an Honorable Discharge from the US Naval Receiving Station in 1952.
Jack had an illustrious career working for New England Telephone Company/NYNEX from 1956-1988 where he developed and maintained special friendships.
Jack enjoyed playing the piano especially family sing-a-longs, bowling, skiing at Sunday River, camping in the Starcraft pop-up, and taking day trips to visit family and friends. Jack aka “Mr. Coombs” was a permanent fixture at Lindsey Playground playing softball with neighborhood children and his family. It was not uncommon for Jack to invite every child in the neighborhood for a dip in “his pool.” Many cold mornings Jack could be seen loading the Suburban with ice skates and sleds and heading either to Kelleher’s Pond, MDC ice rinks, or Sullivan’s Hill. He was a die-hard New England sports fan and took great pride in bringing his young children to Fenway Park for doubleheaders in the bleachers. Jack was known to jump in his car and travel to visit family members throughout New England. He also loved spending summer days, body surfing and relaxing with his children at Good Harbor Beach and grabbing ice-cream. He never had to buy his own because there were always “enough” licks to go around. Above all, Jack was a loving, proud and devoted father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and neighbor.
Jack is also survived by his ten children: Susan and her husband Matthew Conescu of Middleton, Jack and his wife France Coombs of Beverly, Nancy and her husband Ricky Neal, Jr. of Putnam, CT, Tim and his wife Pam Coombs of Scarborough, ME, Donna and her husband John Silvio of Beverly, Paula and her husband Philip Szypko of Vestal, NY, Janet Coombs of Danvers, Carol and her husband David White of Peabody, Lynda and her husband John Barrows of Danvers and Michael J. and his wife Karey Coombs of Warner Robins, GA. He was the loving grandfather to twenty-eight grandchildren, Timothy and his wife Jessica McGraw, Richard and his wife Samantha Conescu, Daniel and his wife Jenna Conescu, Griffin, Hayden and Devon Coombs, Katie Neal and her fiancé Joshua Farber, Julie and her husband Jeremy Rawson, Laurie Neal, Tim, Allison, Mikaela and Catie Coombs, Jessica and Dennis Silvio, Shannon and Michael Szypko, Kari and Sarah Bettencourt, Samantha and Megan White, Jake, Andrew and Rachael Barrows, Ellie Coombs and Dalton, Emily and Allie Cohen and great-grandfather of Devonn, Kylee, Cameron, Lillian and Avah. He is also survived by two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Carl and his wife Lydia Coombs of Hampton Falls, NH, Frank Coombs of Nahant and Loretta Coombs of Beverly. He was also predeceased by his brother, Robert Coombs and sister, Marjorie Jodrie.
His funeral service will be held on Tuesday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his memory to Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102., Danvers, MA 01923.