John M. Arrigan

Born on July 24, 1941, John was the son of John Joseph Arrigan and Laura Boucher Arrigan, brother of Donald J. Arrigan of Phoenix, Arizona (deceased) and of Lucille F. Arrigan of Milford, MA.

John leaves behind his loving family, his wife of 52+ years, Marylin Relle Arrigan (from Bristol, RI), and his children and grandchildren: daughter, Susan M. Miller and granddaughter, Evelyn Grace Miller, of King George, VA; son, Michael J. Arrigan and his wife, Heather C. Arrigan, grandson, Samuel J. Arrigan and granddaughter, Madelyn J. Arrigan, of Whitinsville, MA; and daughter, Jenevieve E. Arrigan, of Westbrook, Maine.

John spent his childhood growing up in Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and attended Classical High School in Providence. He went on to the University of Rhode Island where he received degrees in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, and Guidance and Counseling. He received his master's degree in engineering also at the University of Rhode Island.

John worked as a Systems Analyst for companies in Connecticut and Maryland. In addition to his job as an Analyst, John taught evening courses in engineering at URI and taught Child Psychology at Mitchell College in Connecticut. He owned his own company, Sigma Research, before relocating to Maryland with his family. He retired from Northrup Grumman Corporation in November of 2010.

John was a member of the Knights of Columbus throughout his life and volunteered for many years for the Knights, for the churches he attended, and for many community events. While his children were growing up in Coventry, Rhode Island, John was active in youth sports; he coached and served as the President of The Coventry Soccer Association for a number of years.

John was extraordinarily talented and skilled at woodworking and construction. He used this interest and talent in helping out others and along the way, built additions to his houses, family members' and friends' houses, sheds at a number of his homes, and for family members. John created beautiful pieces of furniture. He also built a 2-story stone and brick fireplace with the exterior stones gathered from around the area.

He was adept at numerous skills around the house and readily assisted anyone who needed his help. He also designed and built many hands-on teaching aids and materials for his wife's teaching programs and readily helped in many of her projects.

John loved his family deeply, loved God, his Church and his country. He enjoyed history and was particularly interested and knowledgeable about the history of WWII. Although he was a quiet man, his wit and knowledge were often interjected into conversations on a variety of topics. He loved watching his grandchildren grow and thrive and regularly was a big part of the "drop-offs" and "pick-ups" at their daycare and schools. He was their go-to guy for building and fixing indoor and outdoor toys and equipment.

He and his wife, Marylin, loved to travel. They enjoyed trips with their children in the United States and Canada while they were growing up and he traveled extensively through work and for pleasure to many countries in Europe, to Abu Dhabi, Japan, Canada and Mexico.

He will be remembered with love and a smile in the heart and with the feeling of being blessed to have known and this wonderful man.

Calling Hours, from 4-6PM, are Friday, October 10, 2025, at Carr Funeral Home, 24 Hill St., Whitinsville. John's Funeral Mass will be at 11AM, Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Saint Patrick's Church, 1 Cross St., Whitinsville. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick's Cemtery.

Instead of flowers, please donate to Saint Patrick's Building Fund, 7 East St., Whitinsville, MA 01588, or to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Association, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY, 10018.