John "Jack" Francis Wanders III, was born to the late Margaret (Murray) and John F. Wanders II at a home in Roxbury, MA, though the family would soon move to Burlington, MA, where he would spend his salad days with his four sisters, Margaret "Meg", Karen, Gail, and Susan. Affectionately called "Jackie" in the neighborhood, little is known of this time in his life, though it is said that he was the quietest person on Alma Road.

After high school, where he was voted Most Shy along with someone else that no one remembers, he would have a daughter, Nicole Ann. He would later earn an associate's degree in electronics, which would lead him, eventually, to a company called Internav, where he met his future wife of 43 years, Nancy Blauvelt. In the Spring of 1978, after a pretty mild winter, Nancy gave birth to Brian James. The family would soon move to Medford, MA, where John would spend the remainder of his days.

John was a self-made polymath. He read fervently, he learned with vigor, he taught himself how to take most things apart and put them back together, among so many other valuable skills. This led to his ultimate career at Boston's MBTA, where he spent 26 years fixing and maintaining the Blue Line fleet of trains, arguably the only line that hasn't fallen apart in recent years. John retired from the MBTA in 2014. He napped then, but he only napped harder in the years to follow.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, John began dialysis. At the same time, he began treatment on cancer that had taken over most of his internal organs. He was not given a very good prognosis, but, despite all odds, and during all of the ups and downs of a pandemic, John more than quadrupled any Boston medical professional's expectations. His drive and desire to live will be written in such history books as prestigious as this here obituary. Please print it out and put it on your fridge. No one does that anymore.

John leaves behind his beloved wife Nancy Jean, his son Brian James and his long time partner Kelly Nicole Nolan of Maine, and his favorite daughter Nicole Ann of Massachusetts, who herself has spawned her own daughters Tessa Marie Borowski, and Savana Marie (Roberts), who in turn has three amazing children, Charlotte, Will, and James, with her husband Henry Roberts, all of New Hampshire. In addition, John leaves behind his sisters, as well as many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and a multitude of nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews, and even a few great great nieces and nephews. Since most of the aforementioned are allergic to flowers, please make donations to Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, MA, who took great and loving care of him during his last days.

If you would like to celebrate this amazing man's life and triumphs, please join us at George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville, MA on Friday, June 28th from 3:00PM to 7:00PM, with Words of Remembrance beginning at 6:30PM. Relatives and friends invited to attend. A graveside service will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery, 230 Playstead Road, Medford on Saturday, June 29th at 10:00AM - please meet inside the main gate off of Playstead Road at 9:45AM.

R.I.P., Papa.