John D. MacVarish III of Milton died peacefully February 2, at home, at age 91, after a brief illness. Beloved husband of the late Helen T. (McDonough) MacVarish, he was the loving father of Kathleen and her husband Marshall Ottina of Milton, John D. IV and his wife Elizabeth of Hingham, Anne MacVarish of Milton, Jayne MacVarish and her husband Brent Goddard of Dudley, Francis and his wife Therese of Marshfield, Thomas and his wife Paula of Marshfield, James and his wife Kathleen of Braintree and Helen and her husband Brian McCune of East Bridgewater. He was also the father of the late Mary, wife of Dick Dyer of Milton. John is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He was the devoted brother of Elizabeth Casey of Milton and the late Frances Wright of Braintree. John was the son of John II and Elizabeth (Heffernan) MacVarish. Born in Brookline, John settled in Milton and was a graduate of Milton High School, Class of 1941, and Bentley University; he also attended Northeastern University. John enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II, rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Occupation of Japan. Returning home after the war, John resumed his insurance career at Marsh & McLennan and later at Fairfield & Ellis, where he retired as Chief Operating Officer in 1986. John was a charter member of the Milton Merchants Athletic Association, a Little League coach for many years, president of Milton Kiwanis, a member of Wollaston Golf Club, and a town meeting member for over 50 years. John was also a Knight of Malta. A funeral Mass will be said at St. Agatha Church, 432 Adams Street, Milton, Friday, February 6, at 10 a.m. A wake will be held at St. Agatha Church Thursday, February 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. Arrangements being directed by Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home, Milton. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Home Base Program, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, www.homebaseprogram.org. Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home Milton, 617-696-4200
John MacVarish. Another member of the “Greatest Generation” passes from us.
I didn’t grow up in Milton. So, I came to know him later in life and missed the opportunity that many had when he coached many youth activities. Baseball I think.
I did meet John when I joined Milton Kiwanis and my first impression was of his boundless energy. Whether John was President of Milton Kiwanis or not he was always directing the club to help others less fortunate or in some dire circumstances. It was if he had a direct line or just a keen awareness to the needs of others. A month didn’t go by that he wasn’t directing us to help some individual or groups. I believe he single handedly initiated the Milton Kiwanis golf tournament which for many years became the main funding source the club used to help those in need. You just didn’t say ” No” to John MacVarish. “No”, was not in his vocabulary. It was always “Yes,” and before it became a political catch phrase, ‘Yes, we can’ and we did.
I will relay one incident which could have come out of a scene from the iconic movie “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Not that John was in need of help but others were. Specifically, the daughter of a Milton firefighter. She was diagnosed with mitochondria disease which prevented her cells from processing nourishment and energy to the body. It is a devastating disease and more so when it affects a very young child as in this case.
Nearly single handedly John organized the Kiwanis Club to put together a fundraiser for this young girl and her family. The fundraiser was held at the Milton Hoosic Club on Central Avenue but it looked more like Milton had become Bedford Falls the setting of the movie. Cars were backed up for a block or more in both directions on Central Avenue and people had to wait in line to get into the Hoosic Club because the crowds were overflowing into the street. Not sure how much John raised but more than enough that the family could equip their van with an electronic lift and some other medical devices for her care.
If John MacVarish wasn’t organizing major projects like that he was always doing little things that mattered just as much. I remember riding side saddle with him on several Thanksgiving mornings as we delivered Meals of Wheels to those who were alone on that day or for some other reasons in need of assistance on that day. More importantly, they weren’t strangers to John but more like extended family.
Guess John was a lot like George Bailey, the Jimmy Stewart character – always helping others and not realizing the immense good he had done for others and for his community.
John MacVarish will be missed. I was honored to know him.