A Funeral Mass for John Elias Perkins, 88, will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at 10:30 AM in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown.

Mr. Perkins, a son of the late Elias “Al” and Catherine G. (McHugh) Perkins, was born in Watertown. He graduated from Saint Patrick Grammar School, Watertown High School, and the Gallops Island School for the Merchant Marines. In his youth he was a caddy at the Oakley Country Club and his love of the game of golf continued throughout his life.

Mr. Perkins was an Electronic Technician for Sperry Marine of NYC until his retirement in 1982. John was a gyroscope service technician who travelled throughout the world and he spent many days on sea trials. John’s luckiest moment came when he was rescheduled, at the last moment, from an assignment on the USS Thresher submarine. On April 10, 1963, in a major tragedy for the US Navy, the Thresher sank, killing all 129 men aboard.

In his retirement John and his wife became interested in collecting and selling antiques and John developed an extensive knowledge of antique silver, well known by all dealers in the greater New England area. John and Mary enjoyed summers on the beautiful coast of Maine for many years in their small cottage on the cove at St George with an outhouse nicely positioned for a view of the sun rising over the coast.

A resident of Belmont for the past 14 years, Mr. Perkins always had a soft spot in his heart for Watertown. He and his wife Mary raised their four daughters on Palfrey Street in Watertown. John’s father, know as Al, was the Building Inspector for the town of Watertown during the 1940s and his mother, Catherine, was born in Watertown and Christened at St Patrick’s Church, as were her thirteen brothers and sisters.

John died at his residence on Friday, June 18, 2010, under hospice care, after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband for 54 years of Mary T. (Tannian) Perkins; devoted father of Beth Ann Perkins and her husband Dr. James Peterson of Westford, Roberta C. Perkins, RN of Greenfield, Jean M. Perkins of Rockport and Marie L. Woods and her husband Glenn of Belmont; dear brother of the late Mary Cash, Catherine McCabe and Roberta Osiecki; and loving grandfather of Kate Peterson, Julia Peterson, Mark Peterson, Ryan Chumsae, Lowell Chumsae, Sarah Woods, Elyse Woods, Mary Woods; and great-grandfather of Jaiden Woods and Mariah Woods.

Calling hours will be in the MacDonald, Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home at 270 Main St., on Route 20, Watertown, on Monday, June 21st from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 22 at 10: 30 AM in the Church of Saint Patrick, 212 Main St., Watertown. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Caritas Good Samaritan Hospice, 310 Allston St, Brighton, MA 02135.