John Hilary Cody

Chelmsford

John Hilary Cody, 84, died on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. He was born in Watertown, MA, and lived in Chelmsford since 1965.

John was a high school science teacher beginning his career at Tewksbury High where he taught for five years then teaching at Arlington High School for 34 years. He was instrumental in developing an innovative chemistry course for future nursing students and a physics course for those interested in engineering.

John was an athlete all his life and loved coaching kids of all ages – from middle school through college – in football, tennis, basketball and volleyball. He was an accomplished coach – he launched particular sports programs at several schools, achieved over 500 career wins and 21 league championships in tennis at Arlington High, brought numerous teams to state tournaments, and was named Coach of the Year multiple times in different sports. Some of his employers include Minuteman Regional Vocational High, Bishop Guertin High, Notre Dame Academy, Bedford High, Stoneham High, Lowell Catholic, Innovation Academy, Boston University, College of the Holy Cross, and the University of Massachusetts – Lowell. John also directed the Arlington summer tennis and basketball youth recreation programs for decades. He was director and coach for the Merrimack Valley Junior Olympic Volleyball Program as well as a coach for the Bay State Games.

John leaves behind Elizabeth, the woman of his dreams and wife of 62 years, seven of his eight children; Deborah, William, Patrice, Kathleen, Kimberly, Kerry and Heather and his 16 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Colleen, and his sister, Judith Vacca, both in 2019. The family loves spending time together and gathers as often as possible. It made John very happy in July 2021 when the family could all gather together again, relatively safely.

John's faith was an important part of his life and he served as lector and eucharistic minister at St. Mary's Church. He had an ever-present and dry sense of humor…. the chemistry teacher who would "boron". He loved gardening and feeding the birds – and squirrels.

All are invited to the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD on Tuesday, April 19th from 4pm – 7pm to reminisce, grieve, support each other and just chat. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 20th at 9am at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., CHELMSFORD. KINDLY MEET AT CHURCH. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to High Pointe House at homehealthfoundation.org/donate– a beautiful and caring hospice house where Dad spent his last days, one of the athletic funds at Lowell Catholic at lowellcatholic.org or St. Mary Parish, Chelmsford. Funeral Directors Paul A. Hardy, Jr. & Jennifer Hardy. For directions and online guestbook, visit CHELMSFORDFUNERALHOME.COM and find us on Facebook.



View the online memorial for John Hilary Cody