John Soper, Jr.

John James Soper , Jr ., known by all who knew and loved him as "Jack", age 85 of Stoneham (formerly of Wakefield and Everett) passed away Tuesday January 24th after a lengthy illness. Jack fought hard to the very end.

Jack is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Ruth (Wood) Soper , his beloved son Michael Soper , and loving daughter Jill ( Soper ) McFadden and her husband Darin, all of Stoneham.

Jack is also survived by his three grandsons Carter, Nicholas and Hayden McFadden. His Grandsons were everything to him and loved them more than the world. "Papa" as the boys called him, was so proud of each and every accomplishment in their lives, every win on the baseball field and every goal scored in hockey and soccer. He encouraged them to always do their best and be their best no matter the outcome as long as they tried their hardest. Of all the things Jack accomplished in his life becoming a Grandfather in 2005 was his absolute most cherished role.

Jack was born in Everett Massachusetts in 1931 and was the youngest of five siblings. Jack graduated from Everett High School, and was a dedicated and hard working man his whole life. He worked tunnel construction in his younger years helping build some of the major underground tunnels serving the Boston area. He went on to own a successful Gulf Oil Co. Gasoline Service Station and Towing Service on Revere Beach Parkway in Everett for many years. He also later worked for the Harmonic Drive Division of the United Shoe Machinery Corp. in Wakefield and worked on a team responsible for manufacturing the harmonic drive transmissions for the Apollo lunar roving vehicles sent to the moon as part of the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 Missions.

Jack was also very involved in community service throughout his life. He was a member of the Wakefield Elks BPOE #1276 and also a Freemason. He was an Auxiliary Police Officer in Wakefield, Massachusetts for several years before being appointed a provisional Police Officer in Wakefield. He enjoyed serving the community and patrolling his walking beat in Wakefield Square, from the Town Common to Water Street.

After getting married and moving to Stoneham to start his family and raise his children, Jack became the longtime Cub Master for Stoneham Cub Scout Pack 535. During his tenure the pack enjoyed incredible success in fundraising efforts of which he made sure every dollar benefited the cub scouts by providing quality programs, award banquets and Field Trips. Jack coached Stoneham Little League Baseball and also umpired for Stoneham Girls Youth Softball.

Jack held a special place in his heart for young adults with developmental delays and special needs. Jack volunteered for many years cooking meals at the annual banquets sponsored locally by the Suburban Special Needs Committee.

In his spare time, Jack was also an avid and accomplished outdoorsman. For most of his life he made annual trips to Maine during hunting season with a group of his closest friends. Jack was predeceased by his longtime best friend Dominic Bonacorsi of Salem NH. Jack enjoyed fishing and boating, and spending his weekends at Salisbury Beach, and in Maine at Sebago Lake and later in Wells. He enjoyed traveling and spent several family vacations with his grandsons to Walt Disney World

Jack was predeceased by his father John James Soper , and his Mother Isabelle (Pynn) Soper of Everett and his four sisters Winifred ( Soper ) Mason, and Dorothy ( Soper ) Brown, both of Peabody, Shirley ( Soper ) Brown, of Wakefield and Jean ( Soper ) Robbins of Malden.

Jack is also survived by his nieces Carolann Cavecchio, Cheryl Brown and her partner Ginny Berger both of Blue Mountain, GA, Debbie Paulmbo and her husband Bob of Hyannis, and Susan Mauriello and her husband Frank of Lynnfield and his nephews Mark Robbins and his wife Margie of Peabody, Larry Brown and his wife Cindy of NH and William Brown and his wife Claire of Wakefield. Jack was predeceased by his niece Leeca (Brown) Holleran of Wakefield. Jack was also the proud Great Uncle and Great Great Uncle of many more nieces and nephews.

A wake will be held on Thursday January 26th from 4:00pm -7:30pm at the McDonald - Finnegan Funeral Home at 322 Main Street, Stoneham, MA. Funeral Service will be from the funeral home on Friday Morning at 10am, followed by interment at the Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack's memory can be made to: The Stoneham Fire Explorers c/o Stoneham Municipal Credit Union, 40 Pine Street, Stoneham, MA 02180 or to a scholarship fund to be established in Jack's name at the Saint Patrick School, 20 Pleasant Street, Stoneham, MA 02180

January 26, 2017
4:00 PM to 7:30 PM

McDonald - Finnegan Funeral Home
322 Main St.
Stoneham, MA 02180

January 27, 2017
10:00 AM

McDonald - Finnegan Funeral Home
322 Main St.
Stoneham, MA 02180