John Saunders

Chicopee- John Saunders, 81, of Eton Street, Chicopee, passed from this life into the next on the afternoon of July 2,2004, at Baystate Medical Center, lovingly surrounded by his family. John was born in Dublin, Ireland, April 7,1923. Educated in Ireland, John was a graduate of University College, Dublin, and furthered his education in London, England At the Royal Institute of Chemistry and Syracuse New York, where he received his Master's Degree from Syracuse University. John's employment career began in Thurles, Ireland where he enjoyed working as a chemical engineer for the Beecham Company, a very successful sugar company, imperative to the Irish economy. Immigrating to the United States, John had a long and distinguished career as a chemical engineer. From 1954 until his retirement in 1986 John was employed by Spaulding Sports World Wide, Chicopee. During his tenure John held many posts including Vice president of Manufacturing, Director of Quality Assurance, as well as many key executive positions .His vast experience was not only put to use locally, but it reached out to distant areas such as Haiti and the Far East, where he was instrumental in the components of setting up various sport systems. A resident of Chicopee for over 50 years, John was involved in many community and civic organizations John was on the Board of Directors for the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Chicopee Manufacturers Association, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Irving H. Page and Alice J. Page Trust Fund, a member of the Westover Air Force Base Land Bank Advisory Board, Parade Marshall, Chicopee Contingent for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Holyoke (1977) Past President of the John Boyle O'Reilly Club, Springfield Past President and Past Treasurer of the Oxford Country Club Men's Association, Chicopee, a Junior Governor of the Loyal Order of Moose, Chicopee, a member of the Hampden County Deputy Sheriff's Dept. ,Springfield, a member of the Chicopee Elks Club, the Tigers Athletic Club,Chicopee,and the Pastime Athletic Club, Chicopee. A parishioner of St. Patrick's Church, Chicopee, John also volunteered his time for many years as an instructor for C.C.D. John was pre deceased by his beloved wife of Sligo, Ireland the former Mary Louisa Boake, who passed away on January 7,1991. Together this loving couple raised two devoted children, who forever will cherish their memory, a son David J. Saunders and his wife Laura of Brightwaters, Long Island, New York, a daughter Patricia McDonald and her husband Craig of Chicopee, three cherished grandchildren Maura and Erin MacDonald of Chicopee and John Saunders of Brightwaters, L.I. New York, two dear sisters Kathleen O'Hara of Florida and Elizabeth Cogan of Dublin Ireland. Many nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends both here and in Ireland survive John. The funeral services will begin on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. from the Tylunas Funeral Home, 159 Broadway, Chicopee, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at 11:00 A.M by Rev. Richard Turner in St. Patrick's Church, 319 Broadway, Chicopee. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. John's family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home for a period of visitation on Tuesday from 4 to 8 PM. Expressions of Sympathy may be made to St. Patrick's School.