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The family of Captain John Oliver Webb, Jr (US Navy, Retired) of Alton Bay, NH is saddened to announce his passing on December 12, 2025 at the age of 74 years. Born on Jan 6, 1951, Captain Webb was raised in Metuchen, NJ and attended Metuchen Senior High School. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia. John was commissioned into the US Navy on June 2, 1973.He was assigned to the destroyer, USS HAMNER (DD-718) in San Francisco, California and later to the USS DAMATO (DD-871) operating out of Newport, Rhode Island. He left active duty for the Inactive Reserve in 1977. He received a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University and is a registered Professional Engineer. Captain Webb was assigned to Naval Reserve (NR) Naval Control of Shipping Organization, Boston in support of the Military Sealift Command. There he met and married his wife, Ruth Maguire. While continuing his Naval career, they made their home in Wilmington MA, and had three wonderful children, Missy, Jack, and Amy.John was assigned to the Naval Shipyard Portsmouth NH, where he served in succession as Administrative Officer, Training Officer, Production Officer, and Executive Officer. He completed his Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) qualification in 1986, and served as the unit’s Commanding Officer from 1991 to 1993. In addition to his regular duties during that time, Captain Webb volunteered to serve as Chairman of the Recruiting District Assistance Council (RDAC) supporting Navy recruiting efforts for all New England. He was selected as the Navy Recruiting Command’s RDAC Chairman of the Year for 1993. He was promoted to the rank of Navy Captain (O6) in 1993.From 1993 to 1996 he served as Executive Officer of NR Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for Industrial Mobilization supporting the Navy’s Vendor Motivation Program. Later he was appointed as Commanding Officer of NAVSEA Detachment that provided support for management of Naval Shipyards and Supervisors of Shipbuilding. Following the tragic events of “Nine Eleven,” Captain Webb was one of nine officers recalled to active duty in support of Operation Noble Eagle at Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters in Crystal City, Virginia, where he served until May 2002, when he returned to Inactive Reserve status. He retired on board the historic sailing ship, the USS Constitution in 2003, following 30 years of service.John loved helping others. He used his experience, knowledge of the Naval system and his personal contacts to advise and support a wide range of mentees in their career. John cherished his many loyal friendships that began in his youth, continued throughout college, and on into their final years. John was a creative engineer and designer. Following his active-duty service, John became a key member of the Stone & Webster Quality Assurance department ensuring exceptional component performance in critical applications such as nuclear power and hydroelectric power plants. He later continued in this specialty for Tyco Valves & Controls which became Pentair and finally Johnson Controls.Even as a youth he entertained his friends by building intriguing electronic devices, such as a small levitating earth globe called the “Little Atlas.” He conceived and implemented a system using geothermal energy from deep beneath his home to heat and cool the property throughout the year. He loved playing the guitar and singing with friends and family and driving his Spyder roadster. But most of all he loved his family. John and his wife, Ruth, hosted regular family gatherings at their lake house throughout the year with their three children and their many grandchildren and cherished friends. A convert to Catholicism, he and Ruth maintained an active involvement in their parish. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four gold stars), Meritorious Unit Commendation (three gold stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and many others.Captain Webb is survived by his wife, Ruth Webb, and their three children: Missy Ruth Casserly and her husband Nathan, John (Jack) Webb III, and Amy Webb and her husband Jack Smith, and their five beloved grandchildren, Claire and Addison Casserly, Chloe Webb-Nash and Grace and Austin (AJ) Webb.A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, December 17th at 11:00 AM at St. Katharine Drexel Church, 40 Hidden Springs Road, Alton, NH. Viewing with be held starting at 10:00 AM on Wednesday prior to the Mass. Interment with be on Thursday, December 18th at 11:00 AM at Blue Hill Cemetery, 700 West St, Braintree, MA. We ask that family and friends meet at the cemetery office.In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations in John’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. https://give.michaeljfox.org.

Cpt. John Oliver Webb, Jr

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