Obituary of John W. Davidson
John W. Davidson, most recently of Canterbury, CT, died peacefully on Jan. 2 at the age of 88. Born in Worcester, MA, on May 26, 1935, to Gertrude Berg and Walter Davidson, he grew up in West Millbury, MA, next door to his cousin and lifelong friend Robert Pearson. Some of John’s most cherished memories were summers spent in the fields and orchards of West Millbury with Robert and delivering milk for Pearson’s Dairy. After graduating from West Millbury High School in 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a radioman on a B-29 bomber during the Korean War. Following his service, John attended Northeastern University earning a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1964. After graduation, John began a 35-year career at Raytheon and spent his free time enjoying the outdoors, hiking and skiing in the White Mountains. It was during a spring ski trip at Tuckerman’s Ravine that John met his future wife, Virginia (Ginny) Dowd of Wellesley, MA. After their wedding in August of 1966, John and Ginny settled in Northborough, MA, where they raised their sons, John Jr., and Andrew.
John shared his love of the outdoors with his family, spending weekends and vacations skiing, hiking, camping, and golfing. The family took multiple trips across the country in a van that John retrofitted as a camper. There, they hiked the Rockies and the Grand Tetons. John was a longtime member of Ala-bye Ski Club in Intervale, NH, and was a ski instructor at Ward Hill in Shrewsbury, MA. Upon retirement, John hiked the entire Appalachian Trail with his good friend Ray Agar. In 1998, John and Ginny moved to a 50-acre property in Canterbury, CT, where they lived adjacent to John Jr., and his family, enjoying the natural environment of his childhood, with pastures, horses, beloved dogs, and wildlife.
John was predeceased by Ginny, who died in January of 2009. He is survived by his son, John Jr., daughter-in-law, Kelly, granddaughters, Jenna and Nicole, and by his son, Andrew, daughter-in-law, Joyce, and their sons, Liam and Charles. He is also survived by two dear cousins, Clara Agar, and Robert Pearson. The family is forever grateful to John’s caregiver and friend, Colleen Shashok. John will be buried in the West Millbury Cemetery. Share a memory at Gagnonandcostello.com