John R. Eaton ’57 died on September 27, 2025, in Pocasset, Massachusetts.
(The following was provided by Boston Globe in October 1, 2025:)
John R. Eaton ’57
John Reynolds Eaton (Jack), 90, of Pocasset, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family on September 27, 2025. He was the beloved husband of the late Lucy Eaton and son of the late John A. Eaton, Jr. and Ruth Evans.
Jack graduated from Brockton High School and received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Bowdoin College. After enduring the humiliation of being chained as a woman to the Massachusetts State House fence, he proudly earned his DKE Fraternity membership, guarding the secret handshake faithfully all his life. Jack also participated in Bowdoin’s ROTC program, through which he earned his commission as lieutenant in the U. S. Army and then served in Korea for eighteen months. Upon his return, he moved to Buffalo, NY, to work in the insurance business. It was during this time that he met his loving wife, Lucy, of fifty-nine years. In 1965, he moved to West Bridgewater, MA, where he raised his family and joined his father and brother Chuck in running the family-owned insurance company, Thompson, Eaton & Boyden of Brockton, earnestly fulfilling his role for many years until his retirement in 2009.
Jack served in many charitable ways within his community. He sat on the board of trustees at Goddard Hospital and People’s Savings Bank, and was an active member of the Kiwanis Club in Brockton, where he reluctantly sang on the radio with the other members during the holidays. One of his greatest pleasures in serving the community was running the Insurance Youth Golf Classic (IYC) at Thorney Lea Golf Club in Brockton, his home away from home. He not only founded this program but devotedly lead it for twenty-five years. He first caught the golf bug at age fourteen while searching for golf balls to sell to buy a boat. This led to his first job at Pocasset Golf Club, working on maintenance, and from then on, he loved nothing more than encouraging young athletes in their pursuit of the game. A devoted member of PGC from 1988 until his reluctant resignation in 2022, he won the MA State Senior Four-Ball Championship, and earned the honor of having four holes-in-one over his career. He never truly put the clubs away, and on his 90th birthday, he was still practice-swinging on his porch.
In addition to golfing, Jack found great pleasure in ten-pin bowling, fishing, boating, watching sports, doing yard work, and drinking martinis. He could often be found puttering around the house or sitting at the dining room table working intensely on building ship models. With the touch of an artist, he crafted cabins complete with tiny doors and windows that could actually open and close. Yet more than anything, Jack cherished Saturday nights, dressing up to take Lucy out for fine dining. Though he referred to himself as a procrastinator he was also an innovative problem solver. While he might put off mundane household projects, he delighted in tackling challenges that stumped others—dreaming up and building clever little gadgets and contraptions that might have brought him fame had he patented them.
Jack was immensely proud of his daughters and their families, and nothing gave him more joy than being “Grampa Jack.” He threw himself into his grandchildren’s lives, traveling near and far to cheer them on at games, swim meets, theater productions, ballet performances, academic award ceremonies, and graduations—always their biggest supporter. Holidays and family gatherings were enhanced by his creativity, especially the elaborate Easter-egg hunts he meticulously designed—memories his family will treasure for years to come.
He was a true and loyal friend to many, with one of his oldest buddies dating back to first grade. “Jack is such a great guy,” and “a true gentleman,” were common sentiments shared by those who knew him. He was kind, generous, and humble. He was often the life of the party, entertaining others by playing the “Boogie Woogie” on the piano, stumping people with his “Dime Trick,” or keeping others on their toes with his quick wit, always having a funny story, joke, or “zinger”. Jack’s humor was treasured by everyone around him and remained strong even as the years wore on. At age 86, Jack embraced a deeper, more intimate faith in God, and was often found in prayer—a source of comfort and peace for him. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and especially by his family, whom he fiercely loved and provided for with great devotion and generosity.
Guided by Lucy’s wisdom, he purchased a summer home in Pocasset in 1974, a place he cherished through countless summers. What began as a seasonal retreat became the place he would call home for the rest of his life, making it his permanent residence after Lucy’s passing in 2020.
John is survived by his four daughters Nancy Lyon of Dennis, MA, Joan Eaton of Milford, MA, Amy Landry and husband, Kevin, of North Falmouth MA, Susan Armstrong and husband, Russell, of Norman, OK, his sister Joan Duesing of Vero Beach, FL, two nieces, a nephew, sixteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his brother, Chuck, and beloved daughter Julie Eaton.