PEABODY - John Waselchuk Jr. 95, beloved husband of 68 years to Mary (Murtagh) Waselchuk, who survives him, died peacefully surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.

Born in Peabody, he was the son of the late John and Annie Waselchuk. John spent almost his entire life in Peabody.

John graduated from Peabody High School in 1945 where he was a star pitcher on the baseball team. He was inducted into the Peabody High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.

John entered the United States Navy shortly after graduation and served our country for three years. During two of those years, he was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet before being transferred to the Quonset Point Naval Air Station, where he pitched the "Flyers" to an All-Navy World Series in Norfolk, VA.

Upon his discharge John was drafted by the Chicago Cubs organization and optioned to the team's Clovis, New Mexico affiliate where he was named to the All-Star Team. In 1950, he played for Greensboro in The North Carolina League and lead the team with a 2.28 E.R.A. During his five-year minor-league career, John pitched against many Hall of Famers including Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, and Roger Maris.

After returning to Peabody, John served as the Peabody High School J.V. and Varsity coach for ten years. He was a high school baseball umpire for thirty years and served a term as president of the North Shore Baseball Umpires Association. He participated in the Old Timers Jimmy Fund Games on Labor Day for over twenty-five years and was a lifelong member of the Association of Professional Baseball Players of America.

John served as the City of Peabody Tax Collector and was a long-time employee of the Peabody Municipal Light Department

John was an avid outdoorsman. He always had a bountiful vegetable garden growing in his backyard. A wonderful cook, many holiday celebrations were enjoyed with John cooking in the kitchen.

John is also survived by his daughters, Ellen Aleixo of Middleton, Janet Foley and her husband, Ed of East Falmouth, granddaughter, Abby Hare and her husband, Matthew of Somerville, granddaughter, Katherine Foley of Denver, CO, grandson, John Aleixo of Boston, and grandson, Edmund Foley of Brookline, plus great grandchildren, Madelyn and Charlie Hare of Somerville. Also, his sister, Alice Lauzon of Duxbury, his brother-in-law, Fred Murtagh of Peabody and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death, besides his parents, by his brothers, William, Anthony, Alexander, Fred, and his sister, Mary Gerow.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Wednesday, November 9th, 2022, at O'Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations, 167 Maple St. (Rte. 62) DANVERS.  Visitation will be from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M., followed by a memorial service. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Jimmy Fund, C/O Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849167, Boston, MA 02284. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com