John Virgilio

1935 - 2020

Jack Virgilio, 85

AUBURN - John Louis "Jack" Virgilio, 85, of Auburn, died peacefully at home on Thursday, December 24, 2020 after a long illness.

Son of Salvatore John and Frances Rita (Gioiello) Virgilio, Jack was born May 4, 1935 in Worcester, Massachusetts at 58 Chilmark Street. He was Baptized, received first Holy Communion and Confirmation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Worcester. He attended Adams Street Elementary School from kindergarten to fifth grade, and completed eighth grade at Sacred Heart Academy in 1949. He graduated from North High School in 1953 and Attended Worcester Academy and the College of the Holy Cross.

Jack enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 1956, served on active duty, returned to the reserves and was recalled to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. He was honorably discharged in 1963.

He began working in his family construction business in the summer of 1949, a company established by his father in 1935. He married Carolee Ann Pedusey on November 3, 1957 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. A son John Lee Virgilio was born on November 19, 1960, and another son David Michael Virgilio was born on August 26, 1966.

Jack left the family business in October of 1973 and began working at Norton Company as a senior staff engineer in Facilities Engineering Department, Engineering and Construction Services Division.

He married Deborah (Farnum) Varney in December of 1978. He and Deborah enjoyed many summers in Narragansett Bay on their boat.

Jack left Norton Company in 1984 and re-established the family construction business with his sons. He liquidated the business in 1991 and returned to Norton's parent company, Saint-Gobain in 1994 as Northeast Regional Marketing Manager for the Construction Products Division, headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia. He retired from Norton Company in 1996 and worked as a Property Manager for the Massachusetts highway department involved with land taking for the re-construction of Route 146 in Worcester. He continued to perform construction management and consulting services including a study of the history of the dam for the Cedar Meadow Lake Watershed District.

Jack was involved with countless community organizations in and around Worcester.

In addition to his wife and sons, Jack leaves four grandchildren.

Due to Covid restrictions, a private funeral service will be held for the family. He will be laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery, Auburn. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Veterans Inc., 69 Grove St., Worcester 01605.