Published in the April 11, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — John Arthur Jensen Jr., 80, husband of Caroline (Confalone) passed away peacefully with family by his side at the Melrose Wakefield Hospital, Hospice, in Melrose, Massachusetts on April 9, 2019.
Born on June 3, 1938 in Portsmouth, N.H. he was the first born son of the late John Arthur and Catherine Genevieve (Gallagher) Jensen. In addition to his wife Carol, John is survived by his two children; John Jensen and wife Mari of San Francisco and Karen Rothwell and husband Chris of Swampscott. He is survived by his grandchildren; Steve Jensen; Joshua, Kathryn and Jason Rothwell. He is survived by his two brothers Richard Jensen and wife Marie; and Robert Jensen as well as his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his sister Mary Jane (Jensen) Calabro wife of Richard Calabro.
John made a positive impact on communities in Medford, Melrose, and Wakefield throughout his lifetime. John graduated from Malden Catholic High School.
A proud United States Navy veteran (1958-1962), John served in VP-16, a US Navy fixed wing aircraft, which performed anti-submarine warfare duties. He performed as a radio operator on the aircraft and achieved the rank of Aviation Technician Second Class (AT-2). John participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962, and sent the radio message identifying the Russian ship carrying the missiles.
Following his military service, John spent decades working as a cable splicer for the former New England Telephone Company, and its related companies, and was a lifelong union member. John worked for a living and earned his retirement.
John loved books, chess, cribbage, and gardening and was an amazing storyteller who had a love for history. His favorite hobby if asked would be “my grandchildren.” He rarely missed any of their games and loved spending hours playing cards and chess with them. They adored him.
John spent much of his life helping others.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 12:30 p.m. Interment to follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield.
