Carl Lindegren Jr.

Carl John Lindegren, Jr., 97

SHREWSBURY - C. John Lindegren. Jr., 97, of Shrewsbury passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 surrounded by his family. John was born in Worcester, MA on May 17, 1916, the son of Carl John and Emma M. (Lindberg) Lindegren, Sr., and the grandson of Jon and Maria (Medin) Lindegren, who emigrated from Sweden in the mid-1880s.

At age five John's family moved to Rhode Island where he graduated from Cranston High School. He went on to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1939 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, MA, where he served as Managing Editor of the school newspaper and belonged to Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He remained an ardent and loyal supporter of the college for the next 75 years, serving a number of years on the Alumni Fund Board and also as Chairman of his Class Reunion Committee. He was a Trustee Emeritus of the college, a member of the Presidential Founders, and in 1984, he was honored with the H.F. Taylor Award from WPI for distinguished service to the Institute.

John was a retired Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Naval Reserve, having served over four years of active duty in World War II, including duty as Commanding Officer of a Naval Submarine Chaser along the Eastern Seaboard , Engineering Officer of the Sub Chaser Training Center and the Gulf Sea Frontier, and Commanding Officer of a Ship Recovery Company-all based in Miami.

Following WW II, in 1946, John and his father founded Lindco, Inc. in Worcester, MA, dedicated to the sales of Mechanical Engineering Equipment in the New England area, and which later included the design and manufacturing of pneumatic control systems for the Electric Power Industry. Lindco, Inc. became the largest stocking distributor and converter of industrial and precision ball screws in the United States, with offices in both Worcester and Springfield, MA.

It was at Lindco where he met his future bride, Cecelia (Cis) Lindegren. They married in 1955 and moved to Shrewsbury, MA where they raised five children and lived for 42 years, before moving to Westborough, MA in 2000. They returned to Shrewsbury in 2010 to live in a retirement community.

John and the family spent summers in Chatham, MA, where he imparted his love of the ocean and boating to all of his children. They were members of the Stage Harbor Yacht Club in Chatham, where John served on the Executive Committee, as Fleet Captain and a term as Commodore. John had fond memories of cruising Nantucket Sound, cheering on his children in the weekly sailboat races.

John spent a great deal of his free time outdoors. An avid fisherman, he treasured his annual salmon fishing trips to the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, Canada. He and his wife also traveled extensively for business and pleasure across the U.S. and Europe, and later Australia and New Zealand, the latter fulfilling a lifelong dream.

He was a member of the Worcester Country Club for many years, where he bowled and golfed. More recently, he was a member of the Ocean Golf Club of Hutchinson Island, FL, where he played in their weekly tournaments, as well as at many other golf courses in Southeast Florida-and yes, playing 18 holes into his 90s! Part of the action was steering clear of the alligators which sunned on the banks of the ponds on many of these courses.

John's great love for his community was evident in the many civic organizations he supported and in which he was actively involved. He was a member of the Quinsigamond Lodge of Masons, the Scottish Rite Bodies and the Aleppo Shriners. For many years he also was a Trustee and Board Chairman of the former Fairlawn Hospital in Worcester, MA, now known as the Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital. Along with his many roles at WPI and other organizations, John dedicated himself to activities that he believed improved the lives of others. He will long be remembered for his selfless commitment , his enduring friendships, his deep and abiding love of his family, and his unflinching character-an unassuming role model for many.

John was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Cis, and his sister Ruth (Lindegren) Linden. He is survived by four daughters, Cynthia L. Ecker and her husband Fred of Concord, MA, Debra J. Lindegren and her husband Bill Lae of Woodland Hills, CA, Jane L. Englert of Wellesley, MA, and Joan C. Lindegren of South Natick, MA, and one son, Carl John Lindegren, III and his wife Holly of Glenmont, NY, as well as seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was a member and supporter of the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury for over 50 years, serving as Trustee, Moderator and Canvas Committee Chairman. A memorial service will be held at the Church on Friday, April 25, at 11:00 a.m., with reception to follow in Gifford Hall. Interment with Naval Military Honors occurred on Saturday, April 5, 2014.

In lieu of flowers and in keeping with John's long-held passion for supporting the education of future Mechanical Engineers, please consider making a memorial contribution to the C. John Lindegren, Jr. Scholarship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Attn: Gift Recording, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609