West Boylston – John “Jack” R. Dowling, died Friday, April 24, 2015 at the Knollwood Nursing Center from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 78.
Born and raised in Worcester, he was the son of the late John and Mildred (Dolphin) Dowling. Education played a very important part in Jack’s life, both personally and professionally. He graduated from St. Stephen’s High School in 1954 and went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree from Worcester State College in 1958. He earned his Master’s in 1961 from Worcester State College and his Doctorate in Education from UMass Amherst in 1984.
Jack taught math in Worcester for 10 years. He then began his 30-year career at Worcester State College as a professor and administrator.
It was during his junior year at Worcester State that he met the love of his life, Carol A. (Donovan) Dowling. Carol and Jack lived in Shrewsbury for 43 years, spending their summers in Dennis and winters in Clearwater, Fla. The common bond they shared was family and friends. Jack’s most precious times were those spent with all of “his girls,” especially his three granddaughters who loved him dearly.
Jack loved to travel, read, and play golf. His greatest golf moment was a hole-in-one at Dennis Highlands. He had a love of airplanes, and in 1991 acquired his private pilot’s license. He also had a passion for cars, including his 1959 Cadillac. He and his close friend and business partner, the late Bob Drolet, co-owned Delcon Corporation.
Jack leaves his wife of 55 years, Carol; his two daughters, Sharon M. Hennessey and her husband Thomas of West Boylston and Tracey A. Pajzer and her husband John of Shrewsbury; his three granddaughters, Meghan and Shannon Hennessey and Chelsea Pajzer; a sister-in-law, Joyce McGee and her husband James of Auburn; a niece, Susan McGee; and many close friends and extended family.
The family would like to thank the staff of Knollwood Nursing Center, especially Rosana, for the kindness and compassionate care they provided for Jack. The family would also like to thank the staff of Notre Dame Hospice for their support and comfort.
Family and friends will honor and remember Jack’s life by gathering for calling hours Tuesday, April 28, from 4-7 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again Wednesday, April 29, at 9 a.m., before leaving in procession to Saint Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury, where his funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery.
You may honor Jack’s memory with a donation to The Knollwood Nursing Center Activity Fund, 87 Briarwood Cir., Worcester, MA 01583 or to Notre Dame Hospice, 555 Plantation St., Worcester, MA 01605.
