John Lilly

John Richard Lilly 1922 - 2011 EAST LONGMEADOW John R. Lilly, 88, formerly of Whittier Street, Springfield, died Friday, July 22, 2011, at his home. John, a son of the late John R. and Jane R. (Shields) Lilly was born in New York City, NY on October 23, 1922. He spent his growing up years in North Adams and graduated from the former St. Joseph High School. He attended Niagara University and Temple University and graduated from the former North Adams State Teachers College now the (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts), where he was a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame for Basketball. John received his Masters of Education from Springfield College. He taught in South Egremont and in Springfield at the Sumner Avenue School and the Carew Street School. He was principal of the Carew Street School, Acushnet Avenue School and the Freedman School from which he retired. John was a resident of Springfield for 61 years and was a communicant of Holy Name Church in Springfield where he did volunteer work. He was active in the Holy Name Coaches Club for many years, coaching youth baseball and basketball. He was a member of the board at the South End Community Center, a corporate member of Mount St. Vincent, and belonged to several educational organizations. John was a longtime member of Wilbraham Country Club and during his golfing career scored a hole-in-one. John served his country with the United States Army during WWII in the Pacific Theatre. He received both the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign Ribbon and the American Theatre Campaign Ribbon. In addition to his parents John was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Helen (Hillgrove) Lilly, his sister Jane (Lilly) Burgess, and his longtime companion Bernice "Bunny" Murphy. John is survived by his loving and caring family; his sons, John M. Lilly and his wife Sheila of West Springfield, Thomas W. Lilly and his wife Catherine of Springfield; his daughter, Mary Jane (Lilly) Heady and her husband Michael of Longmeadow; seven grandchildren, Jennifer DiLascia, Annemarie Rizzo, Karin Reader, Cynthia Lilly, John R. Lilly, II, Christine Heady and Michael Heady; four great-grandchildren, Madison, Samuel, Douglas, and Acadia; and many nieces and nephews. FUNERAL NOTICE: Visiting hours for John will be held on Monday, July 25, 2011 from 4 to 7 p.m. at SAMPSON'S CHAPEL OF THE ACRES FUNERAL HOME, 21 Tinkham Road, Springfield. His funeral will be held on Tuesday morning, July 26, 2011 at 8:15 a.m. at the funeral home followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Holy Name Church 323 Dickinson Street, Springfield. Rites of Committal and Interment with Military Honors will follow in St. Michael's Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in John's name may be made to Holy Name Church, 323 Dickinson Street, Springfield, MA 01108 and or to the Chalice of Salvation, 65 Elliot Street, P.O. Box 1730, Springfield, MA 01102-1730 .