John E. Pearson

John E. Pearson, 88, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2019 at Lee Healthcare. He was born in Springfield to the late Carl and Hazel (Whitmore) Pearson. John was a very proud veteran of the Korean War where he served as a Navy corpsman from 1948-1952. He was educated in Springfield schools and went on to graduate from Westfield State College with a pharmacology degree and later received his Teaching Degree. He began his teaching career at Chicopee High School and then moved onto Westfield High School where he remained for 21 years and retired in 1994 as head of the science dept. John loved to travel the United States and in 1999 he and his wife Betty Jo completed a nationwide trip where they visited 46 of the 50 states.  He also loved to camp and visit with his children and grandchildren, was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan and enjoyed stamp, coin and gem stone collecting. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 124 and a former board member on the Westfield Housing Authority. Sadly, John was predeceased by his first wife Joyce {Laird} Pearson, his second wife Betty Jo (Johnson) Pearson, a brother Warren Pearson, a son Robert Frigon, a daughter Bonnie Gaunt, and a granddaughter Erin Hennessey-Sherburne. He is survived by his daughters, Marjorie J. Donovan of Lee, MA, Linda L. Kowalczyk {James)  of Greer, SC and Deborah A. Norman of Travelers Rest, SC, A son Edward Frigon{Debbie) of Housatonic, MA four grandchildren, Buck Donovan (Kathie}, Jason Frigon (Tracy), Michael Donovan (Lisa) and Colleen Hennessey, and twelve great grandchildren. John’s funeral will be held on Friday, November 1, 2019 at Noon in the Firtion Adams FS, 76 Broad St. Westfield, MA 01085 followed by burial in Hillcrest Park Cemetery, Parker St. Springfield. A Visiting hour will precede the service from 11- 12. Donations in John’s name may be directed to the Westfield Homeless Cat Project, 1124 East Mountain Rd. Westfield, MA 01085.

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