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John
“Pa” Raleigh passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday
evening, November 8, 2005, at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in
Burlington. He was 90 years old. Mr. Raleigh was born in Lynn,
the son of Irish immigrants, the late Michael and Mary Raleigh.
He grew up in Roxbury. He played football in High School and
then Semi Pro Football. He was also an amateur boxer. He had the
opportunity to box with a number of well known boxers of his day
including Sugar Ray Robinson.
He served in the Navy during WW II as a
Yeoman First Class. He received the American Area Medal and the
WW II Victory Medal. He was discharged at the end of the war. He
came home and worked for the MBTA as a bus Driver. He was then
called back to the Navy in 1951 for the Korean War. He served as
a Yeoman First Class and was the recipient of the national
Defense Service medal. He was recommended to re-enlist, but he
chose to come home again and went back to work at the MBTA. He
rose through the ranks of the MBTA and at his retirement he held
the position of Station Master at the Bennett Street Station in
Cambridge. He retired after 42 years on the job.
Mr. Raleigh resided in Arlington from
1944 to 1997. At the time of his wife’s death, he moved to
Burlington to live with daughter and her family. His gregarious
and warm hearted nature helped him adjust quickly to the change.
He loved people and always spoke to everyone. He was always
positive and upbeat. He loved children and would always have
special treats for his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and
the neighborhood children. After 8 years in Burlington, not only
were all the neighborhood children calling him “Pa”, but
friends, tellers, grocery store clerks fondly referred to him as
“Pa”. He will be greatly missed.
Mr. Raleigh is the beloved husband of
the late Doris V. (Freeman) Raleigh. He is the loving father of
Robert Raleigh & his wife Mary of Braintree and Debbie &
her husband Bill Hanley of Burlington. He is the brother of the
late Margaret Cameron and Emmett Raleigh. He the grandfather of
Christine Morrison, Robert Raleigh, Jr. both of Pembroke, Dina
Doris Hanley, Jarrod Hanley both of Burlington and great
grandfather of Nicholas & Rebecca Morrison, Ryan, Samantha
& Robert Raleigh, III.
Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan
Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128,
Woburn side) on Saturday, November 12 at 9 a.m.. Followed by a
Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford
St., Burlington at 10 .m.. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m.
Interment will be private. Donations in John’s name may be
made to Make a Wish Foundation of Greater Boston, 1 Bulfinch
Place, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114. For directions &
obituary see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net and
www.saint-malachy.org
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