John P. Gagliardo

John Gagliardo, 99, of Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, surrounded by his family after a period of declining health. John was born on February 13,1926 to Fioravante and Santina (Mocerino) Gagliardo in Springfield. After graduating from high school, he completed an accelerated, academic program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) while on active duty with the Navy, receiving a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1946, and subsequently earned an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from WPI. After WWII, John transferred to the Naval Reserves and retired after 20 years as a Lieutenant.
In 1948, John met Carol Bridgham at WPI where she worked in the Information Office and he was a graduate student and teacher. They wed in 1950 and eventually moved to Shrewsbury where they raised their family. John worked several years as a mechanical engineer in the Worcester area, including as Chief Engineer for the Rockwood Sprinkler/Gamewell Company. In 1970, he co-founded Feecon Corporation, which grew to become a global manufacturer of firefighting equipment for airports, municipalities and the military, and retired from Feecon in 1990. Post-Feecon, John founded Regal Products Inc., through which he continued to manufacture firefighting products and provide consulting services. During his tenure in the firefighting products area John was the inventor of several U.S. patented products.
John and Carol enjoyed traveling and visited many national parks in the U.S., toured multiple European countries by land and river, and even ventured to Australia and New Zealand. John was passionate about both barbershop singing and photography and actively participated in both the Worcester Men of Song Barbershop Chorus and the Artist Guild of Shrewsbury for many years.
John is survived by his children, James Gagliardo and his wife Susan of Upton, Susan Meyer and her husband Richard of Franklin, and Donna Gagliardo and her partner James of Franklin. He also leaves many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
John was predeceased by her wife of 71 years, Carol (Bridgham) Gagliardo.
Graveside service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery, 22 Boylston Street, Shrewsbury on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's honor to the Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Avenue, Salem, MA 01970. https://www.mspca.org/adoption-centers/northeast-animal-shelter/