John C. Morse

BEVERLY — John "Jack" Carl Morse, 21, died on Friday, May 8, 2009 in Syracuse, N.Y.

He was born on Aug. 30, 1987 in Beverly. He attended St. Mary Star of the Sea grade school, was a graduate of St. John's Preparatory School, Class of 2005, and was a senior at Syracuse University, Class of 2009. A devout Catholic, John was a member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish where he served as an Altar Boy for three years and taught CCD.

While at St. John's Prep. John pursued many of his interests. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Editor in Chief of the award winning Spire Yearbook, Editor in Chief of 'Mental Blocks' literary magazine, Campus News Editor for the Eagle Newspaper and President of the Young Democrats. His love of politics lead him to volunteer at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, an experience he thoroughly enjoyed. John was devoted to community service. Some of the outreach work he did included Haven from Hunger and Boston Urban Service. When John graduated his ambition was simply, "To do good."

While at Syracuse University, John was a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and consistently made the Dean's List. He was a member of the St. Thomas More Campus Ministry where he was a recipient of the 2009 Assisi Award for his humanitarian work. He was involved with Habitat for Humanity and spent every winter break for the last four years working in New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was the creator of 'The Trumpet' newsletter for the SU Chapter. He took a class which brought him to England to pursue learning about the life and works of Jane Austin, a favorite author. He was selected by the SU English Department to participate in a class to prepare him for graduate school in his senior year.

John's first passion was literature and he was not often found without a book. A favorite summer job was working at the Beverly Farms Library. Other hobbies included playing Scrabble, Dutch Bliss, Broom Ball games on the ice rink at SU, playing tennis and running.

John was unique and his life was his gift. His love will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Surviving him are his parents, John R. "Rick" Jr. and Linda J. (Frey) Morse; his sister, Katherine E. Morse of Beverly; his maternal grandparents, Jane R. Henderson of Ipswich, Carl R. Frey of Wheaton, Ill.; his aunt, Debra A. (Frey) Heinemeier and her husband Douglas of Big Rock, Ill.; his uncle, Christopher R. Morse and his wife Lou Soltys and their daughter, Anna Soltys Morse, all of Cambridge; and other aunts, uncles and many cousins. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, John R. Sr. and Katherine A. Morse.

ARRANGEMENTS: A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Beverly on Thursday at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The St. Bernard Project (Habitat for Humanity Program), c/o St. Thomas More Ministry, 110 Walnut Place, Syracuse, NY 13210. Arrangements by the Campbell-Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.