Spencer S. Dodd, Jr. ’42 died on January 2, 2023, in Melrose, Massachusetts.
(The following was provided by the Gately Funeral Home on January 6, 2023)
Spencer S. Dodd, Jr. ’42
Spencer “Sam” Dodd Jr., 103 of Melrose, MA, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2023, surrounded by loving family. Sam was born in Providence, RI, raised his family in Newton, MA, and ultimately retired in the town of Dennis on Cape Cod where he lived for almost forty years.
In 1937 Sam enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and served with the 626th Tank Destroyer Battalion until activated in December 1940. He was then transferred to the US Army Signal Corps and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 974th Signal Service Company, serving in numerous campaigns throughout the South Pacific including Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Lae in New Guinea, and Leyte in the Philippines.
After returning from World War II in 1946, Sam worked for Raytheon Corp for nine years. He then spent the remainder of his career with the City of Newton where he was a radio technician for twenty-three years. It was here that Sam supported the town police and fire departments, ensuring that the city-wide communications were always working properly.
During his retirement years, Sam spent countless hours working on his vast ham radio collection, tinkering on projects around his home, as a member of the VFW and engaging with his many neighbors around his home on Fieldstone Drive. Most days you could find him on his daily walk to the Dennis Village Post Office.
Outside of work, Sam was devoted to his family, especially his grandchildren. He cherished summer and holiday visits from his grandchildren with whom he created lasting memories. He will be dearly missed and always remembered for his kind heart, patience and funny collection of coined phrases.
Sam was predeceased in 1982 by his wife, Mary Hymers, and in 2012 by his daughter, Sally Groves.
He is survived by his son, James Dodd, and wife JoAnn of Charleston, SC; son in law Richard Groves and wife, Ferol, of Merrimack, NH; grandchildren Robert Groves and his wife, Caroline, of Manchester, NH, Rebecca Laliberte and her husband, Doug, of Rockport, ME, and Kenneth Groves and his wife, Laura, of Melrose, MA; as well as five great grandchildren Kayla, Wyatt, Owen, Ava, and Grace. He also leaves many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.