John J. "Jack" Corey

John J. 'Jack' Corey
Longtime Lowell resident

LOWELL -- Jack Corey, 83, of Lowell, died peacefully on December 20, 2011, at Town and Country Nursing Home, after a long period of declining health.

Born April 28, 1928 in Lowell, MA, Jack was one of twelve children of the late Dora (Brais) Corey and the late James Corey. He was first generation U.S. citizen. His mother was from Canada and his father emigrated from Ireland. Jack attended the Weed Street Elementary School, followed by Sacred Heart Elementary School, and graduated from Lowell High School in 1945.

In 1951, Jack married his first love, Pauline (Andreoli) Corey and enlisted in the Navy, serving the country as a SEABEE in the Korean War.

Jack enjoyed music and dancing at the Elks in Pompano Beach, FL. Jazz was his favorite music and he played the saxophone. Flying was truly a passion, piloting out of Lawrence Airport as often as possible.

Jack was a true entrepreneur. He started several businesses with four of his brothers; Corey Steeplejacks, Corey Wrecking, Corey Crane and Equipment, New Hampshire Crane and Equipment, Atlantic Used Trucks & Salvage and a quarry in Westford; Oak Hill Granite, and a lumber company in Puerto Rico.

Headquarters was 1801 Middlesex Street in Lowell, MA. A true family business, his mother lived right next door and would often bring her boys a homemade lunch. In 1969 Jack became sole owner/operator of some of the businesses listed above.

Some of his most interesting jobs involved demolition; most notable was of the Merrimack Mills (1960) in Lowell. There were 105 employees involved just for that one job. In Upstate NY, a Military job was to close missile silos 300 feet underground. On New York City piers, he dismantled Hammer Head Cranes. Then there was a commercial that was shot for testing glue. It had a crane, lifting an elephant from Benson's Wild Animal Farm, proving how strong the glue's bond was!
Jack had no fear of heights; proof of this is captured on film, with Jack being lowered by cable from a helicopter, onto the edge of a 300 foot chimney in Lawrence, MA. After setting down his lunch pail, he waved to the pilot, Red Slavit, owner of the Haverhill Riverside Airport, and began repairing lightning rods.

Another job can be seen in the beginning of the Thomas Crown Affair (1968) movie.

In 1977, a job on the Cape was followed closely by the National Park Service. It was to move the last remaining Life Saving Station on Cape Cod. He picked up the Old Harbor Coast Guard Station on North Beach, Chatham, placed it on a barge on the Atlantic Ocean, and delivered it to its new location; Race Point, Provincetown. Timing was critical, trying to predict and work with the elements. Tides, currents, waves and the winter weather conditions were carefully studied by Jack with perfect execution.

Numerous collaborations with Father Gagnon, an Oblate of Lowell, restored many churches and buildings in Lowell. The Eagle on Lowell's City Hall had been worked on by Jack's older brother, Ed in the 1920's and then again by Jack in 1995. The workers' names are etched inside the steeple itself.

Jack's love for boating brought him to expanding into commercial fishing. He owned two vessels which operated out of Gloucester. The Corey Pride was referenced in the book and movie, "The Perfect Storm".

Twice he was contracted to bring up and remove sunken vessels from Gloucester harbor. Creative engineering raised the "Rockaway". It was raised off the ocean floor by patching the holes in the hull while under water and pumping out the water to make it float to the surface.

Considered a Superman by some, Jack was a very dynamic man. He always looked for challenging jobs that nobody else wanted, that most of the time were very dangerous, and made a success out of them. Above all, he was a gentleman.

Left behind are Jack's six children, Stephen J. Corey of Lowell, Michelle P. Corey of North Andover, Mark and Anna (Kinney) Corey of Dracut, Patrick J. Corey of Waltham, David G. Corey of California, and Denise M. Corey of Tyngsboro.

Jack also left behind seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; as well as five sisters, Helen Campbell of Lowell, Mary Geoffroy of Lowell, Dottie Kilcoyne and her husband, Ray of Clinton, MA, Theressa Iminski of Boyton Beach, FL, and Ruth Frawley of New Market, NH; two brothers, Paul Corey and his wife, Patricia of Boyton Beach, FL, and Robert Corey of Lowell.

He was also the brother of the late Edward Corey, Arthur Corey, William Corey, and Grace Hession.

COREY -- Private funeral services were held at the convenience of the family. For those who wish, donations in Jack's name may be made to New England Hospice, 190 Old Derby Street, Suite 304, Hingham, MA 04023. For condolences, please visit www.mckennaouellette.com