John Anthony McMurrer

John Anthony "Jack" McMurrer, 87, of Amherst, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2025, surrounded by his children. Jack was born in 1937 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to James F. McMurrer Sr. and Mary Ethel (Sullivan) McMurrer. He grew up on Davis Avenue in Arlington, Massachusetts, the youngest of six children. He remained close to his siblings throughout his life. He graduated from Boston College with a degree in Economics and was later an officer in the US Marine Corps. He spent much of his working career as a computer systems analyst for Procter & Gamble, Honeywell, Boston University Hospital, and the Massachusetts Auto Ratings Bureau. He married Donna Middendorf in 1966; they lived in Scituate, Massachusetts, where they raised their family, for almost 25 years. Jack enthusiastically pursued multiple passions. He loved running long before it became popular, awakening before dawn and running (in the dark) around the streets of Scituate. He successfully completed multiple Boston Marathons (although he'd be quick to point out that he did so only in an "unofficial" capacity). He also loved spending weekends sailing the Massachusetts coast - and not just those easy New England summer weekends. As cool fall transitioned into icy winter each year, his sailboat was frequently the last one hauled from its mooring in Scituate Harbor. Jack was determined to take advantage of every last weekend for sailing, even long after most other sailors had turned in for the season. In 1992, Jack retired and followed his dream of sailing a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean to Ireland, the land of his ancestors. He purchased a 27-foot empty fiberglass hull and designed and built the rest of the boat himself over the next couple of years. In this boat, dubbed Atlantic Runner, he made two successful transatlantic crossings (approximately 30 days each) from Scituate to Crosshaven, County Cork, in the 1990s. After a third attempted crossing ended in a harrowing rescue far out at sea during an intense storm, Jack decided to shift his explorations from sea to land. He spent a few happy years driving around the country in his pickup truck and camper, exploring the United States and its national parks. In retirement, he lived for multiple years each in Crosshaven, Ireland; Skowhegan, Maine; and Plymouth, Massachusetts. In these and other locations, he continued his many other retirement pursuits, including writing (novels and poetry), baking bread, bicycling, fitness, and chess (he always sought to crush his chess opponents, regardless of whether he was playing his then-5-year-old grandson or a computer adversary). A voracious reader, Jack was especially delighted by the ancient Greeks, Anton Chekhov, Winston Churchill, and Graham Greene. His favorite poet, by far, was Emily Dickinson. Jack read her works up until the very end of his life and was tickled to be living in Amherst, the only town in which she had ever lived. His book of her poetry was literally falling apart from his constant use, including enthusiastic notes, underlining, and highlighting on almost every page. Those notes reflect his lifelong love of learning and discovering new things, as he dove into new passions, including classical music and opera, long into his retirement years. He was a sports fan with a special place in his heart for the Celtics of Bill Russell and Larry Bird, and for BC football. Jack also rooted loyally for the Red Sox, Bruins, and Patriots. He loved waking up extremely early each day, had a particular fondness for coffee ice cream, and wore almost nothing that wasn't made by LL Bean. His multi-colored collection of crisp LL Bean canvas shirts was legendary. A devout Catholic, Jack had a sharp sense of humor, a twinkle in his eyes, a quiet spirituality, and a gentle humility. His final years were spent in the warm, caring communities of Christopher Heights in Belchertown and the Center for Extended Care in Amherst. Jack is survived and lovingly remembered by his former wife, Donna (Middendorf); his children, Dan and his wife Lucy (Loewen), Jenny and her partner Robert Snow, Erin and her partner PJ Donahue; three grandchildren, Seamus, Bridget, and Patrick; and many nieces and nephews and their families. He loved spending time with all of them, as well as with his five beloved siblings who preceded him in death: Jim, Joe, Larry, Pat, and Barbara. Jack will be deeply missed. His family finds comfort in the words of his favorite poet Emily Dickinson: UNABLE ARE THE LOVED TO DIE, FOR LOVE IS IMMORTALITY. Indeed, his spirit will live on in the hearts of those who he has touched. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst, Massachusetts. Visiting hours will be held at 10:30 a.m., with service following at 11:30 a.m Burial will be held at the convenience of the family at St. James Cemetery in Haverhill, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one of Jack's favorite charities: the Medical Missionaries of Mary or Doctors Without Borders. Memorial guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John, please visit our floral store.