Family and Red Sox Family Celebrate Johnny Pesky's Life

Fans watched from the far side of Humphrey Street Monday as pallbearers carried Johnny Pesky's flag-draped casket from his funeral mass at St. John Church.

The funeral mass and burial ceremonies in Swampscott Cemetery were private — for family and friends including Red Sox ownership, front office people and players present and past.

Nomar Garciaparra, another Red Sox shortstop, led the pallbearers from the church, and rode in the passenger seat of the Hearse. 

He looked quite reverent, said Linda Caruso, watching from across the street with her husband, Saverio.

Their son, Saverio, was among the Swampscott police motorcyclists who escorted the Hearse to the cemetery.

Linda recalled Johnny Pesky making sure her son and his friend, as little kids attending a Fenway doubleheader, got a baseball from pitcher Oil Can Boyd.

Fans Maureen Kelly, and her son, Andre Rivera, of Swampscott, smiled when they saw David Ortiz leave the church.

Andre said Papi and Johnny had a special bond that you could see in their smiles and the way they hugged each other during the 100th Anniversary ceremony for Fenway Park earlier this year.

Current player Jarrod Saltalamacchia was there. And it looked like Vicente Padilla was, too.

Owner John Henry and his wife, Linda Pizzuti, and Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino came to the funeral in buses that arrived from Fenway.

Larry Lucchino said after the mass that Johnny Pesky had welcomed the new ownership team with open arms when they arrived in 2003. Having his support was important, he said.

Former players Jim Rice and Bill Lee were at the funeral mass.

Native Californian Bill Lee said after the mass that native Oregonian Johnny Pesky was in a better place.

He and his wife Ruthie have been on the Willamette River camping the past three days, Spaceman said. And Bobby Doerr has been catering the trip, he said.

The pallbearers were Michael Hickey Sr., Patrick Hickey, Mark Hickey, Michael Hickey Jr., Lawrence Corea, Robert Deveau, Thomas Deveau and Daniel Maher.

Playwright and speaker Dick Flavin gave the funerla mass reflection — and appropriate for Johnny Pesky — it included humor, said Janell Cameron, Johnny Pesky's niece.

Johnny Pesky received a salute from the Swampscott Fire Department as the procession moved along Burrill Street to the Swampscott Cemetery.

At the cemetery Johnny was laid to rest next to his wife, Ruth.