Father of Harvard woman
Jack Dube. (Courtesy photo)
John L. “Jack” Dube, 68, of Westminster, passed away on April 12, 2012 in the house he built, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous nine-year battle with prostate cancer, during which time he continued to embrace life to the fullest.
He leaves his loving wife of 45 years, Anita (Langlois) Dube and two daughters: Jennifer Wilkins and her husband, Scott and their children, John and Jacqueline, of Harvard; and Justine Donnelly and her husband, Matthew, and their children, Samantha and Charlotte, of Longmont, Colorado. He also leaves a brother, Joseph Dube of Fitchburg, and two sisters: Joan Ficarra of Fitchburg and Jeannine Beane of Atlanta, Georgia; many cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friends.
Jack was born and raised in Fitchburg, a son of the late Louis and Gertrude (Richards) Dube. He was a proud graduate of Saint Bernard’s High School, class of 1961.
Jack lived in Westminster since 1972 and had a successful career as an independent manufacturer’s representative, working for the past 25 years with Boutwell Owens & Company, Fitchburg. He previously worked at Tonkin Paper, Fitchburg, for more than 10 years. He was passionate about keeping the customer’s needs a priority throughout his sales career.
Jack was dedicated to creating a better community for his family; he was active in local civic and political committees, including 14 years on the Ashburnham-Westminster School Committee (1976-1989), ten of those years as chairman, and more recently, as a member and chairman of the Oakmont Regional High School building renovation committee. Jack was also a governor’s appointee to the Westminster Housing Authority for five years.
Jack was a charter member of the Montachusett Area Rotary Club. He served as club president (1986-87) and as sergeant-at-arms. He received three Paul Harris Fellow awards and three Rotarian of the Year awards during his 28 years of perfect attendance. He embodied Rotary International’s “Service above Self” motto. Jack was also a third-degree knight in the Knights of Columbus #99 and a lifetime member of the Lodge of Elks #847, both in Fitchburg.
In addition to his civic and charitable interests, Jack loved home improvement projects, renovating homes in Westminster, Ashburnham, Fitchburg, and Harvard, tending to his ever-expanding home gardens, and traveling the United States to learn about bourbon and attend NASCAR races. His favorite song was “My Way,” performed by Elvis Presley.
His funeral was held on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from the Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Home in Westminster, with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Edward the Confessor Parish, Westminster.
Burial Services were at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, 486 Clarendon Street, Fitchburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s name to either the Montachusett Area Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1683, Fitchburg, MA 01420; or Victory Junction Gang (www.victoryjunction.org), 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, NC 27317.
