John "Jack" Weltner

1934 - 2023

John "Jack" Weltner, 89
1934 - 2023
MARBLEHEAD - Jack Weltner, 89, passed at home from complications from cancer the morning of November 25, the day after a loving Thanksgiving gathering of his entire extended family. A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, he entered the army during the Vietnam war as a Captain, and became the head of the mental health clinic at the Army base in Fort Monmouth, NJ. He was a child and adult psychiatrist, and after moving to Marblehead, served as director of Psychiatry at the Lynn Community Health Center.
He also had a private practice which was conducted in a small cozy building next to his home in Marblehead for 63 years. His daughter Julie, a social worker, now practices in that same building. A founder of the Marblehead Community Counseling Center, he was also an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead where he was co-chair of the Pastoral Care Associates. He, along with other UU members, served meals once a month at Salem's Crombie Street shelter (now Lifebridge) for 38 years.
Jack was the author of the book, "Golf Sucks … and then You Die," having attempted to hit his age every time he hit the course with his golfing buddies. An environmental activist, he could often be seen by the side of the road holding a sign protesting the latest polluting project, or in 2016, waving the arm of a 5-foot Bernie Sanders doll made by his wife.
He and his family built a small shelter on land in Vermont, without electricity, heat, or running water, and spent many happy summer days in the woods, cooking over a fire, hiking, and bathing in the nearby stream. He was a member of the Marblehead Democratic Town Committee. He played the only three songs he knew on the tuba badly, but so enthusiastically that his presence was requested for many significant events!
A psychic once described Jack as a "Bodhisattva," in Buddhism a person who has reached a transcendent state in a previous life and has been reincarnated in order to serve suffering beings. Although at first this term was met with skepticism from his wife, he did devote himself to caring for others in myriad ways, and was beloved by all those to whom he personally delivered his specialty: homemade macaroni and cheese. He built houses in Zambia with Habitat for Humanity. He climbed up to 12,000 feet on the path to Mt. Everest. He learned to fly a plane when he met his midlife crisis. He mentored other therapists and led spiritual groups, but he allowed others to give to him as well; when he needed 45 early morning treatments at a Boston Hospital for what he called his "beautiful cancer," he found 45 friends willing to drive him in return for a free breakfast.
He leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Linda Weltner, his beloved daughters, Laura Plunkett and Julie Anderson, who were close by his side during his final weeks, his warm-hearted sons-in-law, Brian Plunkett and Chris Anderson; his closely-held grandchildren, Jessica Lynch (and husband Conor), Danny Plunkett, Noah and Lucas Anderson; his in-laws, Susan Holbert and Pierce Butler of Waltham, and Ken and Barbara Holbert of Sudbury.
Service Information: A Unitarian Universalist shiva, or gathering with the family, will be held at 2-5 pm, Sunday, December 3, at the UU church, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. All are invited. All are welcome. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com for the Weltner family.