John H. Grecoe, Jr., 81 of Andover, MA. passed away peacefully Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington.
He was born on March 29, 1929 in St. Johnsbury, VT, and was the eldest son of John H. and Rosann (Barry) Grecoe. His family moved to Massachusetts in 1934, and opened Grecoe Jewelers in downtown Andover. John was educated at St. Augustine, and Central Catholic High School in Lawrence.
During the Korean War, he served in the Navy as a seaman on the USS Coral Sea and the USS Midway, where he learned to box. He retired from the Postal Service after 35 years, then worked in the medical records department at the Lahey Clinic for over 20 years. He was a voracious reader, political junkie and advisor at large. John loved music, movies and football. He was especially interested in health, and the use of complementary medicine. He was a regular blood donor, and felt deeply for those less fortunate. His faith guided his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife Wanda (Garczynski) Grecoe; six children; Karen Astle and her husband Bill of Leominster, MA; Kim Sherwood and her husband Dr. Keith Sherwood of Topsfield, MA; Kanella Denoncourt of Bradford, MA; John Grecoe and his wife Nancy of Milford, MA; Kane Grecoe and his wife Penny of Melbourne Beach, FL; Francine McConnell and her husband Geoffrey of Arlington, MA; two brothers, Barry Grecoe and his wife Nancy of Salem, NH; Daniel Grecoe and his wife Betsy, of Tewksbury, MA; a sister Julianna Grecoe and her husband Joseph Esposito of Gloucester, MA; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Gordon.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Lahey Clinic for their outstanding care and concern. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to The Covenant House, Times Square Station, P. O. Box 731, New York, NY 10108-0900.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Church, 43 Essex Street, Andover. Visitation hours were held on Tuesday, February 1st, from 1-3 and 5-7p.m at Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover. Interment will follow at a later date at NH State Veterans Cemetery.