Obituary: John F. Walsh, 86, of Reading

Obituary from Croswell Funeral Home:

John F. Walsh, 86, of Reading, formerly of North Reading and Gorham, NH, died Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 at the Life Care Center of Stoneham. He was the husband of the late Yuette (Belliveau) Walsh.

Born in Winchester, MA on January 13, 1928. He was the son of the late Michael J. and Sadie (Haas) Walsh.

John was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate of Reading High School. He attended Merrimack College and was a graduate of Salem State College. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II, serving from 1946 to 1947.

He was a former Town Manager for the Town of Conway, NH and Gorham, NH. He also worked as an enthused writer and reporter for the Berlin Daily Sun. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club.

John loved skiing and he owned his own Cross Country Ski Shop in North Conway, NH, for many years. He loved downhill skiing and did both, well into his seventies. He also enjoyed biking and hiking. Travel was also another passion and he traveled worldwide, especially going to Austria and Germany. He also loved working with a handicapped gentleman named Clod, he would take him out to lunch and enjoyed taking him skiing and biking. John had a full life with no regrets. Age and illness slowed him down, but he never gave up the fight.

He was the loving uncle to Beverly Anderson and her husband Doug of Lynnfield; Norma Claassen and her husband Clayton of Moraga, CA and Donald Thompson and his wife Cheryl of Bonita Springs, FL; also survived by many great nieces, great nephews and a friend, Lala of Shelburne, NH and her family.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 11:30 a.m. in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading, followed by a celebration of his life to be held at Angelica’s in Middleton. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading.