COLLINS, John D.

John D. Collins, age 88, of Somerville and Mashpee, passed away on March 8, 2023 at Falmouth Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of Mary J. (Leetch) Collins, with whom he shared 44 wonderful years of marriage.

John was born on May 19, 1935 to the late Lawrence J. and the late Bridget M. Collins. He attended and graduated from Saint Clement

High School in Somerville, MA, and later received his BS in Business Administration from Boston College. John proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1959-1961, and after his service went back and earned his master’s degree from Boston College.

John taught school in Somerville for 13 years, and later went on to have a 25-year career as a probation officer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On the side, he also worked as both a basketball and football official for Somerville Recreation Department for many years, and was the president of the Somerville YMCA. When he wasn’t working, John was active in his community as a member of the Somerville Lodge of Elks, a member and president of the IAABO Board

27, a board member for the New England Football Association, and also volunteered his time as a track meet official. More than anything, John is remembered as a loving husband, brother, uncle, and friend and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

John is survived by his wife, Mary J. Collins, of Mashpee, MA; his sister Katherine M. O’Neil, of West Dennis, MA; his brothers-in-law, Jack Leetch and his wife Jan, of Cheshire, CT and Dick Leetch and his wife Joyce of Duxbury, MA; his sister-in-law Nancy Viens of Plymouth, MA; his nieces, Christine Edelman of Framingham,

MA, Caitlin Amaral and her husband Chris of Milton, MA, and Beth Leetch of Bethany, CT; and his nephews, Lawrence Collins, Robert O’Neil and his wife Samantha of Jersey City, NJ, Daniel O’Neil, of Boston, MA, Brian Leetch and his wife MaryBeth of Boston, MA, and Eric Leetch and his wife Karen of Columbia, SC. John was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence J. and Bridget M. Collins; and his brother, James L. Collins.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Chapman Funerals and Cremations, 74 Algonquin Ave. (RTE 151), in MASHPEE. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony’s Church, 167 East Falmouth Hwy., in East Falmouth. Burial will immediately follow on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 12:30 PM at Massachusetts National Cemetery, in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, donations in

John’s memory can be made to Somerville YMCA, 101 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143 or online at www.somervilleymca.org/give

John’s obituary ends with his own words: “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, sorry I’m late!”

For online guestbook and directions. please visit www.chapmanfuneral.com