John Robert Read

On Friday, December 17th,2021 God called John Robert Read through the pearly gates of Heaven. John was born on September 28th, 1948 at Fitchburg Hospital in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. John was the only child of George and Helen Read (McMinimen) and grew up on 66 Austin Street in Leominster. John attended elementary and middle school and graduated from Leominster High School in 1966. John also attended Worcester Junior College and finished his education at Lowell Technological Institute in Civil Engineering. On April 4th, 1970 John met the love of his life and on November 29th, 1970 John married Virginia (Ginny) Marie Rose Civita Read at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Leominster, Massachusetts. They recently celebrated their 51st Wedding Anniversary. On December 15th, 1971 they welcomed their first and only child, John Jacob Read, into this world and was a truly loved child. After many years of visiting the Mount Snow area, the family decided to move to Vermont on October 1st, 1972 and has called it home ever since. John and Ginny travelled extensively throughout the Bahamian, Caribbean and Central American Islands enjoying exploring 38 islands in total with Tortola in the British Virgin Island being their favorite and visited there many times and were deemed as “locals.” They spent the winter of 2014 there, when ironically, there was very little snow in Vermont that winter. John wasn’t fond of dancing but when he was at Quito’s in Cane Garden Bay on the west end of Tortola, you couldn’t get him off the dance floor. They also enjoyed many musical festivals throughout the islands including the World Famous New Year’s Party on the neighboring island of Jost Van Dyke to the Full Moon parties at Bomba’s Shack. John was also an avid and rabid Red Sox fan and never missed a game and would even watch the reruns of the games. John was fortunate enough to have attended several Red Sox games during his lifetime which he found exciting and anxious when they were losing. John was truly amazed when the Red Sox won three World Series after so many years. John began his career in Vermont as a surveyor for Dufresne but travelled extensively for work throughout New England and was the superintendent on many multi-million dollar EPA projects including Dover, Readsboro, Milford and Charleston, New Hampshire and Marlboro, Massachusetts. Tired of travelling and being away from home John transitioned into residential housing including Units #17 to #40 at Spyglass at the Haystack Golf Course and the Tara and Mountain View Townhouses. In 1988, John started his own construction company called John Read Building and Home Design Inc. and built many upscale homes in the southern Vermont area including Whitingham, Wilmington, Dover, and Stratton. John retired in 2014 after working many years with his son John J. who now owns his own company, John J. Read Construction and Excavating Inc. out of Stratton, Vermont. John leaves his loving and devoted wife of 51 years, Ginny Read, his only son, John Jr., John’s wife, his beloved daughter in-law, Sian Morse Read who presented John with his beloved Grandson, Matthew John Read born on August 28th, 2007, who John adored. When John passed on Friday, December 17th, he had a picture of his Grandson Matthew John Read laying on his chest. John also leaves his beloved dog Mookie named after Mookie Betz, a former Red Sox outfield player. John also loved their first dog, an Irish Setter named Katie, a second Irish Setter named Prudence, a rescue dog already named Dog, and all his beloved Golden Retrievers, Rosie and Cody, another rescue dog, and John’s son’s family dogs Ross, Rhea and Rusty. John also leaves who he always called his second son, Christopher Eckert and his wife, Taryn and their children who John considered to be his grandchildren Christopher Jr., Kalin, Hunter and Brooklyn. John also considered Tyler Smith from Newfane, Vermont as a friend, kind soul and very helpful to John and his family. John wanted to thank them all for their love, kindness, and thoughtfulness from the bottom of his heart. Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22nd 2021 at Covey and Allen Funeral home with a service at Our Lady of Fatima Church on Thursday, December 23rd, 2021 at 10am. All are welcomed to attend and John will miss this beautiful valley that he has called home since 1972