John 'Jack' M. Thornton, 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

He leaves his beloved wife of 61 years June (Randall) Thornton; his five children Colleen and her husband Wayne Sylvanowicz, Michael Thornton and his wife Diane, Patrick Thornton and his wife Cindy, Kathleen Thornton and her partner Paul Aikens, Mary and her husband Andy Wilson; and his grandchildren and great grandchildren John Thornton and his wife Stacey and their children Logan and Amelia, Jessica and her husband Alan Payne, Peter Thornton, Caitlin Thornton, Robert Thornton, Todd Wilson, Brian Wilson and Rachel McIntosh.

Born and raised in Lynn, MA, the only child of John and Dorothy (Young) Thornton he was a longtime resident of Nashua, NH formerly of Chelmsford, MA.

Educated in Lynn, MA, Jack graduated from St. Mary's High School, class of 1949 where he was a quarterback for the first football team at St. Mary's as well as playing basketball and baseball.  It was here he developed a lifelong friendship with Steve Smith, Dick Blodgett and Dick Collins who were better known as the R.O.M.E.O.'s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) in their later years.

He attended Boston College before he proudly served in the U.S. Army.  After he was honorably discharged, he married his longtime sweetheart June of Lynn, MA in 1955 and began his long civilian career as a program analyst for the U.S. Air Force at Rome AFB, Andrews AFB and Hanscom AFB.  He finished his 38 year career at Horizon's Technology Inc. retiring in 1994.

The two most important parts of Jack's life were his family and his faith.  He was a devoted husband and father giving his family the gift of his time camping in NH for the summer when they were young and traveling with them to various places around the world.  He was a devout Roman Catholic and an active member of St. John Neumann's Community Church in Nashua, NH.

Jack loved to travel, read, ski, listen and dance to swing and the Boston Pops, watch vintage movies and joke around.  He was an avid sports fan and loved fine food and wine and sunsets on Anna Maria Island.  But most of all, he looked forward to his yearly trip with his entire family to Ogunquit, ME for three days playing on the beach, eating seafood and just watching his family grow.

Visiting hours will be held at the Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack NH on Thursday June 29th, 2017 from 4 - 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John Neumann Church, 708 Milford Road, Merrimack NH on Friday June 30th at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory can be made to St. Mary's High School, and can be sent to St. Mary's Advancement Office, 35 Tremont Street, Lynn, MA 01902.