John T. Walker Jr
Obituary courtesy Cartmell-Davis Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc.
John Thomas Walker Jr., of Plymouth, passed away on March 14, 2026 at the age of 81, after a valiant battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Best known as "Johnny Walker," he was a devoted family man, fierce hockey coach and compassionate and loyal friend. He will be remembered for his steady calm, gentle kindness, keen wit, and fabulous "Larry Bird" moustache.
Beloved husband of Carol (Macolini) Walker; he won her heart at a dance on Cape Cod and the couple was married for 55 years. Devoted father of John P. Walker and his wife Kerry of Hanson and Kathryn Godwin and her husband Daniel of Hanson. Cherished grandfather of Abigail, Olivia and Isabelle Godwin, and John J., Robert and Patrick Walker. Brother of Dorothy (Dottie) Rowins and her husband James of California. He was preceded in death by sister Mary Peddell Crothers, brother Robert Walker and his parents Mary (Cahill) and John T. Walker Sr. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Norbert (Bert) Crothers of Plymouth, and many nieces, nephews, lifelong friends, teammates and former players.
Born in East Boston and raised in East Weymouth, John ran wild with his Pleasant Street buddies and enjoyed watching the Red Sox with his father and brother Bobby. He was an avid baseball and hockey player in his youth. A 1962 graduate of Archbishop Williams High School, he competed on the school's hockey team, scoring the winning goal to place them in the state tournament his senior year (only to have his leg broken in the post-game celebratory team pile-up). He went on to receive a scholarship to play hockey for Merrimack College and graduated in 1966.
John pursued a career in teaching: first at Hebron Academy (ME) and later at Weymouth South High School, where he taught Social Studies + History while coaching the hockey team for nearly 20 years. One of the highlights of his high school coaching career was surpassing 100 wins.
After teaching, John worked in insurance, owning his own business, which served the South Shore. He lived in Pembroke for 42 years, raising his family there: coaching his son Jay's little league and basketball teams and ultimately learning the difference between the rules of hockey and his daughter Kate's chosen sport of field hockey. During those years you could most often find him by the pool listening to the Red Sox on the radio, tending to his garden, officiating the neighborhood street hockey game, or escaping up north to host friends at their Bridgton, ME ski house.
He retired to Plymouth where he spent many hours as Papa, tidying up after his six grandchildren when he wasn't reading or perfecting his golf game. He also enjoyed traveling with Carol, his siblings and their spouses to destinations spanning from Canada to France. His love, companionship, and smile will be missed by all that knew him.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to pay their respects on Monday, March 30 from 4-6 PM, at Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home at 373 Court Street, Plymouth. A remembrance service will immediately follow visitation, at 6 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Weymouth High School Hockey Boosters in his memory: mail to WHS Hockey Boosters Michelle Keller, 90 Wampum Street, Weymouth, MA 02190 or venmo: @WHS-Boyshockeyboosters2.