John E. Hubbard, “Hub”, age 78, of Haverhill, formerly a long-time resident of Reading, passed away peacefully on September 4th, 2020, surrounded by his beloved wife of 62 years and his three daughters.
John was born in Melrose on June 13, 1942 and spent his earlier childhood in Delaware before returning to Reading where he graduated from Reading Memorial High School. John and Donna married in 1964 and resided in Reading for over 40 years raising their daughters.
Since the age of 17, John spent every summer at East Shore Beach on Long Lake in Naples, Maine. While there, he was adored by his “camp friends” and had a passion for organizing and hosting many cookouts and events, including his beloved horseshoe tournament on July 4th and Labor Day. Later on, John spent many years at Crooked River and lastly ended up on Brandy Pond where he enjoyed driving the Pontoon boat and sitting on the deck overlooking the water reminiscing with Bob.
John was a devoted family man and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He always had a creative mind making up games, pirate adventures, and building tracks to race matchbox cars. He enjoyed taking them to the arcade so they could come home with a plethora of prizes, and playing board and card games. He cherished and looked forward to each and every moment with his grandchildren who truly adored him.
John was a master jeweler who designed and created beautiful pieces for people including his wife, daughters, and family. He was always good with his hands, and loved to build models, small pieces of furniture, and other woodworking crafts. Hub was an excellent cook and was known for his “World Famous” chicken wings and ribs. He was always called upon to carve the turkey and ham while celebrating the holidays with his family. Hub also enjoyed playing and being a part of softball and bowling leagues, attending weekly bridge games with his friends, playing horseshoes, dining at the Newbridge Cafe and travelling to Las Vegas with his wife.
John was the cherished husband of Donna (Amirault) Hubbard of Haverhill. He was the loving father of Nicole Houldcroft and her husband John of Methuen, Tracy Devine and her husband Patrick of Townsend, Jennifer Rabuffo and her husband Michael of Norwell and his special niece Kristin Charlton and her husband Eddie of Mansfield. John was the beloved “Grampy” of Bradley and Hunter Andrews, Sydney and Campbell Devine and Trey and Bayleigh Rabuffo. He was the son of the late Frank “Shorty” and Mary (Gerade) Dinsmore and son-in-law of the late Phyllis and Jack Campbell. He was the beloved brother-in-law of Jeanette Norton and her husband George of the Villages, FL, Phyllis Shelley and her husband Robert Dufresne of Mansfield, Joyce Nicoletti and her husband Michael of Antioch, TN, Jack Campbell and his wife Daryl of Lowell and Jeff Campbell and his wife Karen of Billerica. He is also survived by many other nieces and nephews. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother-law, and uncle who impacted the lives of everyone who knew him.
Family and friends will gather for visiting hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Avenue, (Rt 62), in Wilmington, on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, from 2-5 p.m. Face coverings are required in the funeral home.
Memorial donations can be made in John’s memory to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005 or to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601.
