John J. "Bud" Purcell

BEVERLY - John J. "Bud" Purcell, 93, of Beverly, passed away Sunday morning, December 31, 2023 at Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester holding the hands of his family. He is predeceased by his wife Jean A. (Van Marter) Purcell with whom he shared 59 years of marriage (Bud would often joke that "at least 6 of them were good ones").
Bud was born in Waltham to the late John J. and Katherine (McDermott) Purcell. He was a graduate of Newton High School with the class of 1948. An avid athlete, Bud excelled in football and hockey during his high school years. He continued his education at Northeastern University graduating in 1953 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. While at N.U. Bud met a hockey cheerleader who would go on to be his cheerleader for life. The two would often talk of how odds were not in Bud's favor given that Northeastern had just gone co-ed leaving the ratio of males to available females unfavorable for him. Bud was named captain of the 1952 Northeastern University Huskies Hockey Team, where he enjoyed much success and accolades as a player. He and his teammates went on to play in the very first Boston Bean Pot Tournament.
An honorably discharged veteran, he served his country during the Korean War as a proud member of the United States Army. Bud went on to settle into a career in insurance, starting out with the Farmer's Fund Insurance Co., before ultimately landing at Gilmour-Rothery & Company in Boston, where he earned a senior Partnership and stayed for many years. Bud was very proud of giving back to his firm to ensure its success, ultimately staying on as a financial advisor after retiring to enable a smooth transition under the new management.
Bud had a passion for the game of hockey long past his days of competing on ice. His children recall many winters when he would flood an ice rink he'd built in the backyard of their childhood home on Garfield Avenue for all family and friends to skate on. A natural leader, athlete, and very involved community member, Bud coached local city teams in hockey as well as many other sports. An active member of the Ryal Side neighborhood of which he loved, Bud volunteered for, and became President of, the Ryal Side Civic Association for many years. There he worked for both community improvement and celebration of the city, helping to host a yearly Fourth of July fairgrounds and fireworks. He was an excellent golfer who left many fond memories on the links at the Beverly Golf and Tennis Club where he was a member, as well as other golf courses. Bud was also a dedicated communicant of the former St. Alphonsus Church on the Beverly/Danvers line, teaching a popular morals class for high school students in his home. Bud was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 1998 almost twenty years after his own farther had passed of it. He became a vocal advocate of early screening for many years, having articles written about him and speaking at functions. Even well into retirement, Bud worked for the community. He was always known to have a smile, a greeting, a helping hand, and a kind word to all his neighbors and became a veteran volunteer for Beacon Hospice.
Surviving him are three daughters, Ann Marquis and her husband Mark of Upton, Gail Rogers and her husband Tom, and Karen Powell and her husband Jim, all of Methuen; one son, Jay Purcell and his longtime partner Kristin Kelley of Beverly; eight grandchildren, Zachary, Kaedra, Dylan, Jenna, Alyssa, Jake, Sean and Katie; several great grandchildren; his predeceased companion, Barbara Bradley of Beverly; one sister-in-law, Ann Purcell of Auburndale and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Pauline Hennrikus and his brother, David Purcell.
His funeral service will be at Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly on Wednesday, January 10th at 11 am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours Tuesday, January 9th from 4 pm to 6 pm. Burial will be held privately. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com