John Christopher Ries Jr.

John Christopher Ries, Jr. EAST WEYMOUTH John Christopher Ries Jr., age 81, died peacefully after a brief illness on June 14, 2009 in Plymouth, Ma. where he has been recently residing with his devoted wife of 58 years, Therese. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Patricia (Ries) Bronzo and her husband Anthony of Hampton, NH, and son, Richard Ries and fiance Sherry Gomes of Plymouth, Ma.; grandchildren Anthony, Christopher, and Catherine Bronzo of Hampton, NH, Richard, Jr. and Kelley Ries of Plymouth, Ma; as well as his half-brother, William Ries of Pagosa Springs, Colorado and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents, John C. and Catherine C. (Lonergan) Ries. John was raised in East Weymouth and educated in town schools, graduating from Weymouth High School in 1946. He is a direct descendant of Edward Bates, the first settler of Weymouth, Alpheus Bates, the first Revolutionary war soldier from Weymouth, and a cousin of Colonel James L. Bates, who led the 12th Massachusetts Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg. His early employment included the Weymouth Light and Power, Fore River Shipyard, and Quincy Pneumatic Scale. He later took over ownership and operation of the family business, W.E. Ames Leather brokerage, which at the time was one of the few remaining leather businesses in Weymouth. In 1951, John married Therese Boucher, RN of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, after she came to the US to provide private duty nursing care to his aunt, Margaret (Lonergan) Coyne of East Weymouth who sustained injuries in an auto accident in Quebec. They raised their two children and lived in East Weymouth until 1983, when they then moved to Marshfield, Ma. John was a caring husband, loving father, and an adored grandfather. In addition to his thorough enjoyment of his family, music, the Red Sox, the South Shore, Cape, and New Hampshire, he will be remembered for his sense of humor and frequent reminiscences of the good ole days. Funeral from the McDonald Funeral Home, EAST WEYMOUTH, at 3 Charles Street (corner of Middle and Charles St.) Thursday at 9:00 A.M. Funeral Mass to follow at the Immaculate Conception Church, E. Weymouth at 10:00 oclock celebrated by childhood friends, Reverend Monsignor Peter Martocchio and Reverend Anthony Daniele. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4:00 8:00 P.M. Interment, St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Weymouth. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Weymouth Food Bank, P.O. Box 890009, Weymouth, Ma. 02189 or weymouthfoodpantry.org