Obituary
John “Jack” MacDonald, a longtime Somerville resident, passed away at home surrounded by the love of his family on July 24, 2024. He was 87. Born in Somerville, raised in Cambridge he was the son of Margaret (Deely) and John MacDonald.
Jack graduated from St. John’s High School in Cambridge and went on to further his education at Boston College, Anna Maria College and received his master’s degree from Suffolk University. An honorably discharged veteran, Jack served in the United States Navy during Vietnam. Following his Naval service, he began a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, first as a patrolman with the Somerville Police Department, then with the Metropolitan District Commission Police Department and retired as a Lieutenant with Massachusetts State Police. Jack loved his time spent on the “Mets”
An avid golfer, he spent many days on the links here in Massachusetts and in Florida where he and his beloved wife, Deanna would escape the winter. Together they would take the drive down every year as “snowbirds”. He was able to enjoy 27 years of retirement. Above all, Jack enjoyed time spent with family and especially his grandchildren.
The beloved husband of Deanna (Maffeo) MacDonald, together they would have celebrated 59 years of marriage in September. He was the devoted father of Christina MacDonald and her wife Michelle Langwider of Maynard and Kathleen MacDonald of Grafton. Cherished grandfather of John MacDonald Giallorenzo, Oriah MacDonald Colarullo and Anthony John “AJ” MacDonald Colarullo, IV. Dear brother of Shirley Hughes of Reading, Patricia Gualtieri and her husband Salvatore of Billerica and Robert MacDonald and his wife Carol of Maryland. Jack is further survived by his special nephew, Robert “Bobby” Gugliotti, II as well as many loving nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Ann Church, 399 Medford Street, Somerville on Friday August 2nd at 11 AM. Relatives and friends invited to attend. A celebration of Jack’s life will immediately follow at the Mount Vernon Restaurant, 14 Broadway, Somerville.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack’s memory can be made to Dana Farber at https://www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give or to the Disabled American Veterans at http://www.dav.org