John “Jack” J. McDonnell Jr.

John (“Jack”) McDonnell, formerly of Somerville, Stoneham, Plymouth (Manomet) and North Carolina, passed away two months shy of his 93rd birthday on Thursday April 2, 2026, surrounded by his loving family, who have been by his side over the last several months as he battled various health problems.

Jack was born on June 9, 1933, in Somerville to the late John (“Jack”) McDonnell Sr and his wife Ethel (West) McDonnell and raised in Somerville.  Jack was the proud father of his six children Debbie (McDonnell) DiMare, of North Reading, John (“Jack”) McDonnell and wife Julie, of Andover, Ginny (McDonnell) Buitkus and husband Stephen, of Reading, Susan (McDonnell) English and husband James, of Manomet, Michael McDonnell and wife Debbie, of Northborough, James (“Jay”) McDonnell and wife Cindi, of Peabody. He was also the proud Grandfather to 12 Grandchildren, and 8 Great grandchildren.  He enjoyed spending time with family and friends especially watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren explore their surroundings and play sports

Jack is also survived by his brother Edward of Arlington, and was predeceased by his sisters Alice McDonnell, formerly of Somerville and Medford, and Muriel (McDonnell) Brodette, of Somerville.  He was also the loving uncle to many nieces and nephews.

While being raised in Somerville sports were his passion.  He was a gifted athlete who excelled in Baseball, Hockey and Football.  He graduated from Somerville High School in 1952 and was a three-sport athlete.  He was also a member of the 1951 Somerville High School State Championship baseball team, where he was the starting right fielder.  He was the starting Hockey Goalie at Somerville high for three years and was Captain his Senior year. During his High School Hockey career he received many accolades for his netminding abilities. He also played Football where he excelled.

After High School he attended Tilton Preparatory School in New Hampshire where he excelled in Football and Hockey. He was accepted into Norwich University, however, in the Spring of 1953, while at Tilton, during baseball practice, he received notice through school staff that he had been drafted into the Army.  He had to immediately leave school and report to basic training, in advance of being deployed to Korea.  Jack was a proud Army Veteran of the Korean War and made many lifelong friends with several soldiers with whom he was deployed for 18 months.

After returning from Korea in 1955, he took a job at the New England Telephone company in Boston, working the night shift, so that he could pursue his career as a sports official.  He married his High School sweetheart, Barbara (Skinner) McDonnell in 1956.  They welcomed their first child Debra a year later.  For the first ten years he raised his children in Somerville and then moved his family to Stoneham in 1968, where all his children graduated from Stoneham High School.

Sports played a major role in his life and Jack turned his passion for sports into a career as a sports official.  He became a College Baseball Umpire, a College Football Official and High School Hockey Referee.  Jack had an active role in the Association of New England Football Officials for more than 35 years, where he held many executive level positions, ultimately becoming the President of the Association.  Jack was also a member of the Eastern Mass Hockey Officials Association and the Eastern Massachusetts Baseball Umpires Association. During summers Jack also umpired Cape League Baseball.

Through his involvement in sports officiating Jack developed numerous lifelong friendships during his career and maintained those friendships during his life. Jack loved spending time with friends, some of whom dated back to his early days in Somerville and early days as a sports official.

After retiring from the Telephone Company, he continued his sports officiating career while running the Idle Wild Bed and Breakfast in Manomet for more than ten years until he moved south to North Carolina.  In his later years he enjoyed getting a breakfast sandwich and coffee along with his newspaper and going to find a quiet, peaceful, place, to enjoy them all. He loved doing crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.  He spent his last years in Manomet and then at Sunrise Assisted Living in Lynnfield, Mass where he was well liked by all and made many friends.  After battling multiple health issues these past few years, it is with great sadness his family says to their father, husband, grandfather (Buppa), great grandfather, uncle, and friends (Pops & Tank) goodbye for now until we meet again.  His memory will clearly live on through the many family members and friends whose lives he touched.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather in Jack’s memory at the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home, 36 Trapelo Road in Belmont, on Friday April 10, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM and on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 8:45 AM, before leaving in procession to St. Catherine’s Church, on Summer Street in Somerville, Mass. for his Funeral Mass celebrated at 10:00 AM.  Interment with military honors by the U.S Army will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the VA Boston Healthcare System VA Boston Healthcare System Donation Link

To view a livestream of Jack's Funeral Mass, please click this link https://www.harborview.live/

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