John A. "Jack" Whelan, a lifelong resident of Charlestown where his heart and soul lied and still does, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was 95 years of age.
Jack was born in Boston on May 25, 1927, a son of the late Emmitt J. Whelan and Laura M. (Cousins) Whelan. He grew up in Charlestown where he was educated and graduated from The High School Of Commerce in 1944. He enlisted into the United States Navy on March 26, 1945 and served his country with honor and pride. He was honorably discharged on August 25, 1946 with the rank of Seaman Second Class. Following his discharge from the Navy, Jack furthered his education and attended Huntington Prep School and on to St. Michael's College in Burlington, Vermont where he had a very productive baseball career. His 3 year batting average was 365, and made 3 Vermont State College All Star Teams. He graduated from St. Michael's College in 1952. He also played and managed for Charlestown teams for 3 years. He was also the Player/Manager of the 1958 Boston Park League Champion Charlestown Cardinals. Jack worked for 35 years in Management with the Commercial Union Insurance Company.
Jack has been very active in the Charlestown community throughout his life. Jack and John "Beansie" Charbonnier started the Milt Schmidt Hockey Program that attracted over 500 boys from Charlestown with a few graduating to Division 1 hockey programs, then onto the NHL. He was on the Board of Directors for The Charlestown Boys & Girls Club. He was an Associate Commissioner for the MDC, a Director at The Charlestown Savings Bank, a Trustee of The USS Constitution Museum, a 15 year member of The Charlestown Democratic Committee and a Trustee of The Massachusetts State College System. He is a member of The Old Charlestown Schoolboys Association where he was Past President and Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, and a member of the Bunker Hill Associates.
In his spare time, Jack was always known to lace up the skates in his later years and enjoyed spending his summers down in Falmouth. Family was paramount to Jack and he cherished all the wonderful years he spent with his beloved wife Ellen and his children, but most importantly in Jack's life where his grandchildren and he was always willing to tell anyone how proud he was of his grandchildren and each one of their accomplishments.
Jack is the beloved husband of 65 years to Ellen V. (McPartland) Whelan. He is the devoted father of John E. Whelan and his wife Jeanne Marie, and the late Sue-Ellen Whelan. He is the loving Papa to Laura Henry and her husband Joseph, John P. Whelan and his wife Caitlin, Gregory P. Whelan, Matthew Whelan and his great-granddaughters Skylar and Peyton. He is the beloved brother-in-law if Reverend Paul G. McPartland. He is the beloved brother of the late Emmett Whelan, Mary Sawtelle and Daniel Whelan. He is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Jack's Funeral on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 10 A.M. from The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church, 55 Warren St. Charlestown at 11 A.M. His burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. His visiting hours will be on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 4 to 7 P.M. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Jack's name to St. Mary's Church Building Fund, 46 Winthrop St. Charlestown, Mass. 02129