Jean D. Watson

Jean D. (Balboni) Watson 1941-2012 Westfield - Jean D. Watson, 70, of Patriots Dr., Westfield, died Sunday, March 18 at home. Born in Springfield, September 4, 1941, she was the daughter of Edith (Loncrini) Balboni of Springfield and the late Henry Balboni. She lived in Springfield until 1964 when she moved to Chicopee and married her husband of 37 years, Ronald R. Watson, who died October 19, 2001. She was a graduate of Cathedral High School in 1959 and of Westfield State Teacher's College in 1963. She received her Master degree at Cambridge College in 1992. She was the member of Phi Delta Kappa at UMASS.  Jean was a math teacher for the Springfield school system for 38 years teaching at Commerce High School for 24 years and retiring from Central High School in 2001. She was a member of the founding group and executive board member of MathWest, a member of both the Massachusetts Teachers Association and ATMNE. She served on the Chicopee School Committee from 1978-1997. Jean was a two time chairman and three time vice chairman and representative to City Government. She was named Who's Who in the first edition of American Teachers and also in 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2005. Jean received the title of "Person of the Year" in 1996 from the Massachusetts School Committee. In 1997, Mayor Joseph Chessey proclaimed January 8th as "Jean D. Watson Day". She was a communicant of St. Mary's of the Assumption Church in Chicopee and was currently at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield. She leaves one daughter Lisa K. Coloske and her husband John W. and their daughter Emily M. of Westfield, two sisters Joyce Tanguay of Belchertown and Joan Tanguay of East Longmeadow. A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 10:00am. Burial is private and at the convenience of the family. Donations to Make a Wish Foundation of Massachusetts, 181 Park Avenue, Suite 12, West Springfield, MA 01089 or to Baystate Hospital Oncology Unit. To leave expressions of condolences, memories or photos, visit Jean's personal webpage at tylunasfuneralhome.com. Tylunas Funeral Home 413-592-0148