John A. Wickstrom

Worcester and Dunedin, Florida. John A. Wickstrom, 85 of Worcester, Massachusetts died November 3, 2017 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was the loving son of John O. Wickstrom and Mary A. (Bellows) Wickstrom. He and his wife, Patricia R. Wickstrom raised seven children. He leaves his children Mary Ellen Michalak and her husband Ed, of Worcester, Timothy P. Wickstrom and his wife M. Helena, of Whitinsville, Elizabeth W. Morse and her husband  Charles, of Whitinsville, Jane Wickstrom and her partner Cal Calloway, formerly of New York City and recently of Seattle, Washington, Susan C. Horan and her husband Michael of Worcester, Thomas J. Wickstrom and his wife Tracey of Whitinsville, and Mark P. Wickstrom and his wife Mary Patricia, of Uxbridge. He leaves twenty-three grandchildren, Jeremy Geary, Brian Geary, Timothy Wickstrom, Jr., Teresa Wickstrom, Katherine Wickstrom, Samuel Wickstrom, David Wickstrom, Daniel Wickstrom, Sarah Morse Adams, Nathan Morse, Emily Morse, Patricia Deignan, Clare Deignan, Thomas Horan, Joseph Horan, Julia Horan, Hannah Wickstrom, Michael Wickstrom, Lillian Wickstrom, Emma Wickstrom, Helen Wickstrom, Robert Wickstrom, and Brigid Wickstrom. He enjoyed a special personal relationship with each of his grandchildren. He leaves his sister Anne Long and her husband Joseph,  of Shrewsbury and his brother Robert (Whitey) Wickstrom and his wife Barbara, of South Berwick, Maine. He also leaves his companion Kathryn Roberts with whom he lived.

John grew up in Worcester and attended Saint John’s High School graduating in 1950. He attended the College of the Holy Cross graduating in 1954. He earned his Juris Doctorate at Boston University in 1957, and did so while working a full time job at night and commuting to Boston each day. He had a long and distinguished legal career. He practiced law as a civil trial lawyer with the firm of Tashjian, Simsarian & Wickstrom and later with Wickstrom Morse, LLP. In addition to his great skills in the courtroom, John spent hours of his time mentoring other lawyers and advising them how to handle many complicated matters. His door and phone line were always open to a lawyer in need. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the Worcester County Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association, he was appointed to Board of Bar Overseers and served as its Chairman, and quietly earned many other awards. He also served as Town Counsel and Chairman of the Town of Northbridge Planning Board in the late 1960’s and into the 1970’s.

He loved going to his grandkids’ many athletic events, music recitals and concerts, rarely missing an opportunity to attend an event. He was also a Historian with an unmatched knowledge of the American Civil War and World War II. He was intrigued with the strategy of war and spent considerable time reviewing the politics associated with global conflicts. Despite his illness, he continued to be an avid reader finishing his final history book within the last two weeks. He also loved thoroughbred horse racing especially at Tampa Bay Downs in the winter and the Saratoga Race Track in the summer. He was a diehard Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics fan.

At his request, there will be no calling hours. A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Patrick’s in Whitinsville on Thursday November 9, 2017 at 11:00am. Private burial will be at a later date. If you have a desire to donate in his memory, please consider Springbrook,  a residential school that provides lifelong support to people of all ages with developmental disabilities, including autism, with residential or day education programs at the School. The school has made a great difference in the life of his granddaughter. Springbrook Office of Development, 105 Campus Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.