Kirby, John Francis (Jack), at the age of 83, on May 8th - of Middleborough, formerly of Plymouth and Brooklyn, CT. John is survived by his wife Charlene (Slayton) and four children; Kathlene Fosse and her husband Paul of NY, John and his wife Robin of Plymouth, Kelly Shaw and her husband Joseph of Canada and the late Richard Kirby. Grandfather of Paul and his wife Jillian of SC; Kaitlyn and Jacob Fosse of NY; Cassandra and Melissa Kirby of Plymouth; Erin and Richard Charles Kirby of Plymouth and Paige and Neal Shaw of Canada. Loving brother of Adrienne Capano of North Reading. John is survived by many nieces and nephews and his beloved companion Kirby his dog.

John was born on October 19, 1932 at Strong Hospital in East Boston to John and Louise (Oakes) Kirby. He attended St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Grammar School in the North End. After graduating in 1950 and began working at the Boston Globe as an office boy to the president, then moved into the Composing Room to start a 6 year apprenticeship. John worked in various departments in the Composing Room ending the last 15 years as assistant to the paymaster. He retired from the newspaper in 1998 and in 2002 moved from Plymouth to Brooklyn, CT. After 4 years in CT he returned to live in Oak Point in Middleborough. While residing in Plymouth he owned and operated Candlewood Ceramic Studio with his wife Charlene for 35 years. He started a food group from St. Peter Church and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Plymouth. Over a 15 year span he delivered and served food once a month to the women at the Pine St. Inn in Boston and in 1998 he was given the Humanitarian Award from the Pine St. Inn for his dedicated service.

John enjoyed Broadway musicals and would travel to NY quite often to see the shows and had an extensive collection of Broadway show CD’s. John also loved to travel and toured Austria, Germany, Prague, Paris, Belgium, Luxemburg, Amsterdam, London, Malta, Switzerland, Canada and extensively through Italy, Ireland, Hawaii and Thailand. He also loved cruises, taking several to the Caribbean, one with his family down the Mexican River and also one around the Hawaiian Islands. John enjoyed going to the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins games with his friend Robert. John was a constant friend of Bill W. for 40 years and a member of the Park St. Group and the Typographical Union.

A Memorial Service will be held for John on Saturday, May 14th at 11am in the Church of Our Saviour, 120 Centre St., Middleborough, MA 02346. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cranberry Hospice of Plymouth, 36 Cordage Park Cir. # 326, Plymouth, MA 02360, Church of Our Saviour, Middleborough, MA or Animal Rescue League of Boston, 10 Chandler St., Boston, MA 02116. 

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