John S. Palo

Obituary for John S. Palo (“Buzz”)

John passed away peacefully in his sleep, in his home in Lunenburg, on October 18, 2024.  He was born on March 30,1935 in Leominster, MA to John S. Palo and Lena M. (Johnson) Palo.  

John’s early education was St. Leo’s in Leominster and St. Bernard’s in Fitchburg.  In 1956 he joined the United States Army and was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., for two years of active service and received an honorable discharge with a rank of P.F.C. He was proud to serve his country.

John moved home to Leominster, Massachusetts and became a patrolman for the Leominster Police Department.  He later decided to become a lineman and joined Massachusetts Electric Company (National Grid) in 1965, retiring in 1995 as a crew leader. John loved his job and responded to many “trouble calls” at all hours of the night, especially snowstorms causing power outages all over Massachusetts.  He received several awards for safety during his tenure at the company.  

On September 14, 1968 John married Jane Tienhaara at the Palo family farm in Fitchburg, MA.  They moved to Lunenburg to buy a house and raise their daughters.  Along with full time work with Massachusetts Electric, John joined the Lunenburg Police Department as a part-time reserve officer from 1969-1985.  His detail work as a police officer was a familiar presence at various local venues such as The Buttercup, The Whalom Drive-in and Tri-Town Drive in theaters, The Lakefront, WhalomPark and many high school dances.  He was relied upon to diffuse and de-escalate situations which he did with grace and professionalism, and wore the badge with integrity, upholding all that it represented with pride.

Always industrious, he kept working part-time in retirement as a van driver for special needs children and senior citizens. He found these jobs rewarding.

John’s interests were focused on his family, his home, music (such as learning to play the saxophone in retirement), socializing with friends and neighbors, traveling the New England coastline with Jane, and keeping up with the New England Patriots. He was a member of the Wilder Lodge in Leominster, MA, a past member of the Franco-American War Veterans of Leominster and AMVETS Post 29 of Fitchburg, MA.

John leaves his two loving daughters, Carolyn J. Palo and Katherine E. Palo of Lunenburg, MA and will be deeply missed.  He also leaves his three nephews, Raymond Pasquale (wife Sue), Anthony Pasquale (wife Kim) and Jeffrey Pasquale (wife Annette).  He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years and the love of his life, Jane, in 2013 and his sister, Eleanor Kane in 2014. 

The family thanks the many home health aides and personal care attendants that cared for him the last 8 years.  Their caregiving helped John to live with independence in his home with his daughter, and to “age in place.”  Also grateful for the geriatric team at Reliant Medical Group, VNA Care Network in Leominster, and the cardiology staff at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. 

Calling hours are Thursday, October 24, 5-7pm at Richardson Funeral Home, 106 West Street, Leominster, MA and the funeral is Friday October 25, 2024 at 10am at Messiah Lutheran Church, 750 Rindge Road, Fitchburg, MA.  Burial to be at North Cemetery, Lunenburg, MA to be announced at a later date.

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