John T. Giles

Retired Waltham Fire Captain John T. 'Jack' Giles died on Thursday, February 27, 2014 in Stuart, Florida. He was 82. Jack was born in Waltham on December 17, 1931, a son of the late Patrick and Delia (Murphy) Giles. He attended St. Joseph's Elementary School, St. Mary's High School and earned his associates degree in Fire Science from Massachusetts Bay Community College. During the Korean War he served with the Army and after returning home he worked for a number of years at J.L. Thompson Manufacturing Company in Waltham. He also worked as a general carpenter with McLean Woodworking, having built and remodeled several homes in the Waltham area. In 1959 he was appointed a Firefighter with the City Of Waltham; he earned the rank of Lieutenant in 1964 and Captain in 1978. While in Waltham he was a parishioner of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Parish where he volunteered with their CCD program, his duties included rounding up any students who might have missed a class or two. In 1995 he and his wife were able to move to Hobe Sound, Florida where they could enjoy retirement together. He leaves his wife, Lucia G. (Salvato) Giles; his children, John T. Giles, Jr. and his wife, Carol Ann, of Natick, Michael P. Giles and his wife, Virginia, of Hampton, VA, Kathleen A. Giles and her husband, Robert Nakashian, of Marion and Christina M. Brennan and her husband, Peter III, of Hobe Sound, FL; his grandchildren, Jason Giles and his wife, Julie, Nicole Velardi and her husband, Andrew, Jennifer, James, Christine and Marybeth Giles, Martha and John 'Jack' Nakashian and Paul and Julie Brennan; his great-grandchildren Kaitlyn and Gabriella Giles; his siblings, James M. Giles and his wife, Jeannette, and Mary T. Bozak of Waltham; his sister-in-law Mary Giles of Waltham and is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late William, Andrew and David Giles and brother-in-law of the late Joseph Bozak. Family and friends will honor and remember Jack's life by gathering for calling hours on Thursday, March 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Light of the World, 1508 SW Mapp Road, Palm City, Florida 34990 or to Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997.