WORCESTER-John F. Reidy, Sr., 84 formerly of 53 Rollinson Road, died Wednesday, March 13th in Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness. His wife Mary A. (Asselin) Reidy died in 1970. He leaves his son John F. Reidy, Jr. with whom he lived, his brother Francis P. Reidy of Worcester and several nephews and nieces. A sister Catherine P. Riedy of Worcester died in 1982.
He was born in Worcester the son of John J. and Mary A. (Kett) Reidy and had been a life long Worcester resident. “Blackjack” Reidy was a 1936 graduate of St. Peter’s High School, and attained All-City Honors in three sports. He was awarded an athletic scholarship to Catholic University, graduating cum laude in 1940. He was a member of Orange Bowl and Sun Bowl football teams of that era. He was a World War II Navy veteran, serving as a “Seabee” attached to the 2nd wave of the 1st Marine Division at Battle of Guadacanal. He later became an officer serving as Communication Watch Officer during the Battle of Saipan in the Marianas Islands. He attained the rank of Lieutenant j.g. He had been employed as a steel salesman, for Rafferty and Brown Steel Company for 30 years, he retired in 1980.
The funeral will be Saturday, March 16th from O’Connor Brothers Funeral Home, 592 Park Avenue with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales Street. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday, March 15th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM in the funeral home.