John M. Cargill

John M. Cargill of Melrose passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 11, 2022  in the loving care of his wife and family.  He was 61 years of age.
John was born in Brighton and raised in Stoneham. He was the loving son of the late John F. and Jane F. (Doherty) Cargill.  John was a warm, kind and caring son, brother, husband, nephew, uncle and friend to many.
  John was a graduate of Stoneham High School and Salem State University. He also held a license in electrical contracting. John worked in the Security Office of the Boston Harbor Hotel for nearly thirty years. He enjoyed interacting with the guests and staff, especially those from GMO Investment and Asset Management, who embraced John as an honorary member of their team. 
  At age seven, John asked to take trumpet lessons and his parents quickly found a teacher for him. He later learned to play the guitar and piano, and to develop his beautiful baritone voice. John was a vocalist and guitarist at St. Patrick Church for over forty years and sang at hundreds of weddings. He was known for his informal sing-alongs, which entertained his friends and neighbors at his family’s New Hampshire cottage, during Cape weekends, and at any and all informal gatherings.  When cancer treatments compromised his voice and ability to play instruments, his family and friends took over the singing and entertained him. As recently as Saturday, he happily listened to them sing Christmas Carols. 
  John also enjoyed youth and high school sports. He  reminisced about his team winning Little League Championships and the fun he had playing soccer, basketball, baseball and hockey. He would often say how fortunate he was that his parents and grandparents were able to cheer him on at his games. 
  After serving one summer as a counselor at Camp Fatima in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, John was asked if he would volunteer for Exceptional Citizens Week at the camp. John quickly found that he loved serving as a counselor for someone who would not be able to attend camp without his support. For a number of years, John returned to assist with E.C. Week, his favorite week of the year. There, too, he assisted with their choir. In 1991, he sang to the campers and counselors for hours in the gymnasium when Hurricane Bob forced them out of the cabins to the safer structure. Many counselors shared that their frightened campers relaxed immediately once John began to lead them in song. 
  John entered his 4.5 year journey of managing sarcoma with strength and optimism. He endured three surgeries, several series of radiation and nineteen months of chemotherapy without a complaint. Even when complications of his treatments rendered him hospitalized for two months and later homebound, John began each day with a smile, and made the most of each one. 

John was the beloved and adored husband of Donna (Sannella) Cargill.  He was the devoted brother of Philip Cargill, Katherine (Robert) Whelan, Noreen Cargill (Gary Bamberger) and Stephen Cargill.  John was the cherished son-in-law of John and the late Maureen Sannella. He was the brother-in-law of John (Karin DiNapoli), Laurie (Joseph) Abdella, Maureen (Lawrence) Hurley and Patrice (John) Marcella. John is also lovingly survived by the many nieces and nephews whom he adored: Zachary (Emily), Meghan, Kiley, Colin, Michael, Matthew, Abigail, Katherine, Andrew, Amanda, Nicholas, Taylor and Adam as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. 
  Funeral from the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main Street (RT 28) STONEHAM on Monday, December 19, at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating John’s Eternal Life in Incarnation Catholic Church, 429 Upham Street, Melrose at 10am.  Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share memories with John’s Family on Sunday, December 18, from 1-5pm in the Funeral Home.  Parking attendants and elevator are available.  Interment Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “Friends of Fatima” and sent to E.C. Week at Camp Fatima, Gilmanton Iron Works, NH 03837, or at ecweek.org; or a charity of one's choice.