JOHN MEYER

John Barrington Meyer

Age 85, passed away at home in Jamaica Plain on August 7.  Son of the late Arnold and Hilda Meyer, brother of the late Dorothy Meyer.

John was a lifelong resident of Jamaica Plain.  He attended Boston Christian High School and graduated from Suffolk University.  He spent 1957-1960 in the Army in Western Germany where he also pitched for his Fourth Armored Division baseball team, the Turtles.  This experience whetted his appetite for travel and strengthened his love of country that persisted throughout his life.  He was passionate about military ships and aircraft, and never failed to fly a American flag at his home.  After his military service he spent 33 years teaching accounting, typing and computers, and coaching at Newton North High School.  Upon his retirement, where "every day is a snow day," John held court on his front steps or side porch with one of his springer spaniels by his side.  Summers were always spent at his camp in Oquossoc, Maine.

The consummate good neighbor, John was the go to person for neighborhood history about houses and people, typically complemented with multiple photographs that he had taken over decades.  New neighbors would be treated to a description of their new house from construction to most recent sale, including biographies of the residents.  He might even admit that his initials were in the cement on the top of your chimney or describe where the bricks in your house originated.  He would tell you about the city closing the intersection near his house so the kids could go sledding down the entire hill and the cows that used to graze behind the Manning School.  John was recently interviewed by a young neighbor for a school project.  When asked to define the American Dream John responded that it was being a good neighbor.  "If you are not a good neighbor you might as well pack it in."  It was a lesson learned from his father and carried throughout his life.

John leaves behind a large extended family of friends in Jamaica Plain and Maine. He was particularly cherished by Jason Palmer and Anna Dockery and their children Otis and Loretta of Roslindale; and Gary and Maria Nardone of Lexington and their family, Andrea Nardone-Tellez and her husband Luciano Tellez, and Christina Pasciscia and her husband Adam.

Those who loved John are especially grateful to Karol Dawkins for the companionship and care she provided over the past several years.  It was a neighborhood pastime to guess what they were arguing and laughing about together on John's porch with his dog Lucky by his side.

The memorial service will be private.  Family, friends and neighbors are invited to John's home for an outdoor luncheon to celebrate his life on Friday, August 14 from 1-3 pm.  Please visit www.mannandrodgers.com for details and to leave a remembrance of John.  Donations in John's memory can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children - Boston, Development Office, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA  02114, or 617-371-4746.

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