John F. Collier

Jack Collier died peacefully on August 16, 2025 after a valiant battle with cancer. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Jack leaves his wife Jackie Ryan Collier, his sons David (wife Stacie and grandsons Sam and Declan) and Todd (wife Sarah and grandsons Ryan and Charlie). Jack and his family lived in South Boston until his early teens when he and his family moved to Hyde Park. After graduation from high school Jack became a sheet metal apprentice and he worked as a journeyman sheet metal worker until he joined the Navy Seabees. During his tour of duty, he was stationed on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. When his tour ended and he returned home, he used his GI benefits to earn his BS degree from Northeastern University. Jack and Jackie were married in 1970 and moved to Westwood where they lived until their sons married. When they decided to downsize, they moved to Norwood. Jack spent the major portion of his career with Digital Equipment Corp. where he worked in facilities management and sales support and worked at CDM at the end of his career.

Around 1983 as his sons were playing in Westwood Youth Hockey programs, Jack started a mens’s hockey group which played at Babson College ice rink. There was no email or texting at that time so ensuring there were 20 players and 2 goalies each week was all done by phone. Managing skaters and the logistics of ice availability and time/schedules was a challenge - but a labor of love for Jack. When Jack had knee replacement surgery after 30 years of playing hockey with the group, he had to pass the torch and stop skating.

After retirement, Jack began taking oil painting classes with Rosemarie Morelli in her Walpole studio. He loved developing his artistic skills with his classmates. Retirement also gave Jack the chance to spend more time at his vacation home in Chatham. He loved riding his bike on the bike trail, walking the causeway on Morris Island with Jackie and dog Tivie and he especially loved swimming from bouy to bouy at Hardings Beach.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 29, 2025 at St. John's Episcopal Church, 95 Deerfield Avenue, Westwood at a time to be announced.