September 23, 1957 – January 9, 2025
John E. Olson, Jr., a Reading resident for over 40 years, formerly of Chelsea, passed away at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on January 9, 2025. He was 67 years of age.
John was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on September 23, 1957, the son of John E. Olson, Sr. of Maine and the late Marie (Cronin) Olson. John grew up in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School. At the early age of 10, John began his career in the restaurant business by helping his father at the Chateau DeVille restaurant. By the age of 21, he became the Regional Kitchen Manager for all the Chateau De Ville dinner theaters and function venues in the area. In 1983, he went to work for Legal Sea Foods, where he eventually became Senior Vice President of Operations. He left Legal to open Traditions Restaurant in Saugus with his wife, followed by some time at the Landry’s Restaurant Group as Director of Operations for all of their East Coast Chart House restaurants. He was recruited back to Legal Sea Foods, where he successfully ran their 75,000 sf Quality Control Center. He loved the hospitality industry and worked tirelessly for close to 50 years.
When he wasn’t working, he loved taking trips with his wife and sons. They enjoyed many vacations to places like Seabrook, NH, Newport, RI, Vermont, Florida, Venezuela, Hawaii, Bermuda, Tortola, and Turks and Caicos. He loved taking cruises and visiting islands in the Caribbean.
No one can argue that he didn’t love his beloved dogs through the years, Barney, Keska, Kahley, Diamond, Jax and Hailey.
Despite his health issues in recent years, the highlight of his life was spending time with his grandchildren. Bama and Bampa day was his favorite day of the week.
John is survived by his father, his beloved wife, Susan A. (Coppinger) Olson, his devoted son Kevin C. Olson and daughter-in-law, Corey of Reading. John is also the loving grandfather of Lucy, Bella and Johnny. He is the loving father of the late Johnny Olson. John is also survived by siblings, loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends who became
family. He is the much loved, son-in-law of the late Edward J. Coppinger and Ruth M. (Kelley) Coppinger.
The funeral services and burial for John are private at his request, and there are no visiting hours.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s memory to the Johnny Olson Scholarship Fund c/o The Reading Scholarship Fund PO Box 492 Reading, MA 01867.
Arrangements under the direction of the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home, Reading, MA. www.douglassfuneralhome.com
