SALEM - John S. Linehan, 59, a native of Salem, MA, died unexpectedly Sunday, Oct. 10, while traveling in Virginia. He was loving husband of Marianne (Lynch) Linehan and father of Brian and David Linehan. He was also the son of the late John and Janina (Smith) Linehan.
Until relocating in August to Bluffton, SC, he was a lifelong resident of the North Shore. He previously resided in Salem, Amesbury, Merrimac and North Andover. He was a member of the Salem High School class of 1969, and also attended Salem State College and North Shore Community College. Earlier this year, he completed the Sterile Processing Technician program at North Shore Community College and became a Certified Registered Central Service Technician in anticipation of changing his career path.
John was a Mr. Fix-it. He could do anything mechanically. His friends remember his quick wit, unending jokes (often the same ones over and over again) and his conservative political opinions. Most of all, they remember him as a loyal, true blue type of a guy. He was loving and devoted to his children and a real soul mate to his wife. He brought joy and fun into the lives of all those he touched.
During his career, he worked primarily in the trucking and printing industries. Most recently, he worked as the service manager and credit and collections manager at Utility Trailers in Seabrook, NH. Previously, he was purchasing manager and shipping and receiving supervisor at Bradford & Bigelow in Newburyport. Over the years, he also worked at CDL Transport in Wilmington, Lee Freightliner in Londonderry, NH, Fleet Supply in Chelsea, New England Trailer Equipment Corp. in Peabody, the US Postal Service and the Essex County Sheriff's Department.
He was a loyal and devoted member of Essex Lodge AF&AM of Salem since 1976, serving as master of the lodge from 1981 to 1983. He served as lodge secretary from 2004 to 2010. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Salem Masonic Building Association from 1979 to the present, serving as secretary from 2003 to present. In addition, he was a member of the Aleppo Temple Shrine in Wilmington for 30 years. In 2009, he was proud to see both his sons follow in his footsteps to become master Masons in Essex Lodge.
In addition to his wife of 29 years of Bluffton, SC and his sons, Brian, and David of Sandown, NH, he leaves a brother, James Linehan of Danvers and his wife, Kathy; a sister, Janine Gilchrist of Danvers and her husband Jack; his sister-in-law, Julie Lynch of Henderson, NV; brother-in-law James Lynch of Effingham, NH, and his wife, Robin; his dear aunt and Godmother, Virginia Linehan of Lynn; three nephews, John Linehan, James Lynch, and Thomas Lynch; one niece, Perry Lynch Lara; and numerous cousins.
His funeral service will be held Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 10:30 am from the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem, followed by a funeral Mass at 11:30 am at the St. James Church, Federal St., Salem. Visiting hours will be Friday at the funeral home from 4 to 8 pm with a Masonic Service at 7 pm. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, or the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 50 Federal St., Boston, MA 02110. For on line condolences, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.