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Worcester Telegram & Gazette HomepageObituaries SectionSubmit an ObituaryJohn Wirta
1952 - 2021
BORN
1952
DIED
January 1, 2021
Died Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Calling hours 11-12pm Thursday, February 25, 2021. at the Funeral Home. Funeral service 12 Noon Thursday, February 25, 2021. at the Funeral Home. Funeral Home: Smith-Mallahy-Masciarelli and the Fitchburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes 243 Water Street
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Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette from Feb. 22 to Feb. 23, 2021.
MEMORIAL EVENTS
GUEST BOOK
Sponsored by Smith - Mallahy - Masciarelli FH - Fitchburg.
2 Entries
John and I worked together for years first working and commuting together at Seppala and Aho Construction traveling all over. John and his brother Paul worked together framing homes in the central MA area when I started my own business. John was truly a great guy and I am truly saddened by his passing. I send my sincere condolences to his 3 sons and their families. May he rest in peace.
David Okerman
Friend
February 25, 2021
Sorry to learn of John's passing. We were FHS-70 classmates who lost touch over the years. However, I mostly remember John from track meets at Crocker Field and as a teammate running cross-county for Coach Lassila (65-66).
I can still recall jogging with John many days after school in our gold and brown B.F. Brown gym uniforms along Elm Street and through the Finnish neighborhoods near and around Burbank Hospital where he was well-known and well-liked. We would usually run said-by-side until about the last 100 yards or so when John would smile and say, “Hei hei!” (See ya!) then take off running like an antelope.
My best friend in grammar school had emigrated to Fitchburg from Finland with his parents in 1954, and we often went with his folks to social and sporting events for adults and youths at Saima Park. They also took us along to buy groceries at the United Co-Op or to meet with friends and read the local Raivaaja newspaper next door at the Finnish Drugstore. We would occasionally see John there with his parents, so we kids would talk over a vanilla cola at a table inside or go outside to hang around the Upper Common Park and Boulder.
He always admired a 1958 Topps Ted Williams #1 Baseball Card that an older cousin gave me (and always regretted it) as a birthday gift in 1962, and as kids John more than once unsuccessfully offered to trade me any 10 or more baseball cards of his that I wanted for it.
In the eight grade, John and I once “double-dated” by meeting my girlfriend and her cousin at the Fitchburg Theater to watch a two-for-one James Bond double-feature of Dr. No and Goldfinger. He showed up with a vinyl album Fresh Cream because he knew my parents had recently bought a new record player. Although the girls and I were die-hard Beatles fans, we all rode the F&L bus to my house after the show to listen to (and become new fans of) Cream in stereo; and thereafter John and I use laugh and sing one of the songs on this album “I'm So Glad” to keep pace as we jogged around Finnish Town. RIP
I can still recall jogging with John many days after school in our gold and brown B.F. Brown gym uniforms along Elm Street and through the Finnish neighborhoods near and around Burbank Hospital where he was well-known and well-liked. We would usually run said-by-side until about the last 100 yards or so when John would smile and say, “Hei hei!” (See ya!) then take off running like an antelope.
My best friend in grammar school had emigrated to Fitchburg from Finland with his parents in 1954, and we often went with his folks to social and sporting events for adults and youths at Saima Park. They also took us along to buy groceries at the United Co-Op or to meet with friends and read the local Raivaaja newspaper next door at the Finnish Drugstore. We would occasionally see John there with his parents, so we kids would talk over a vanilla cola at a table inside or go outside to hang around the Upper Common Park and Boulder.
He always admired a 1958 Topps Ted Williams #1 Baseball Card that an older cousin gave me (and always regretted it) as a birthday gift in 1962, and as kids John more than once unsuccessfully offered to trade me any 10 or more baseball cards of his that I wanted for it.
In the eight grade, John and I once “double-dated” by meeting my girlfriend and her cousin at the Fitchburg Theater to watch a two-for-one James Bond double-feature of Dr. No and Goldfinger. He showed up with a vinyl album Fresh Cream because he knew my parents had recently bought a new record player. Although the girls and I were die-hard Beatles fans, we all rode the F&L bus to my house after the show to listen to (and become new fans of) Cream in stereo; and thereafter John and I use laugh and sing one of the songs on this album “I'm So Glad” to keep pace as we jogged around Finnish Town. RIP
Skip Bourque
Classmate
February 24, 2021