John Henry Westnedge passed away peacefully on July 11, 2026, at the age of 85, surrounded by his loved ones. A lifelong learner, teacher, craftsman, artist, and devoted family man, John lived a life defined by curiosity, creativity, and a love of building and making.

John was born on December 13, 1940, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Ralph and Marie Westnedge (née Ashton). He graduated from Central High School in Providence before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts from Rhode Island College in 1965 and a Master of Arts in Education from Central Connecticut State University.

After graduate school, John joined the Peace Corps, where he taught industrial arts in Malaysia from 1965 to 1968. There he met the love of his life, Marie Koh. They married in Providence, Rhode Island, on June 22, 1968, and shared 58 wonderful years together while raising their three beautiful daughters. John was the BEST girl dad.

Teaching was John’s first calling. He taught industrial arts in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and later mathematics at Bristol High School in Bristol, Rhode Island. Although he eventually changed careers, he remained a teacher at heart. He never lost his enthusiasm for mathematics and loved sharing that passion with his daughters and grandsons, encouraging them to think, learn, and solve problems.

Always eager to embrace new challenges, John used his continuing education credits to transition into the emerging field of computers. He spent much of his career as a systems analyst with the Navy contractor Unisys before continuing as a private consultant.

Woodworking was John’s greatest creative passion. If something was broken, he could fix it. If it didn’t exist, he could build it. He designed and crafted furniture, completed countless home improvement projects, and took particular pride in the Scandinavian-inspired teak bedroom set he built for his eldest daughter. He also loved to draw and paint, always finding satisfaction in creating something with his own hands. Among the creations he was most proud of was a ten-foot sailboat that he built in the basement of the family’s Bristol home. Once completed, he recruited his daughters as crew for many days sailing on Mount Hope Bay.

John enjoyed sports throughout his life. A high school wrestler and later a wrestling referee, he was also a loyal New England Patriots fan, faithfully cheering on the team beginning with its first Super Bowl appearance in 1986.

John had a lifelong sweet tooth. He rarely met a dessert he didn’t enjoy, especially if it was chocolate.

His favorite saying, “Life goes on,” reflected his practical nature and steady outlook on life.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Marie L. Westnedge; his daughters, Stephanie Westnedge and her longtime partner, Maria Lorena Lehman of Coral Gables, Florida; Michele Honein and her husband, Elie Honein, of Quincy, Massachusetts; and Kristine Tutak and her husband, Przemysław Tutak, of California; and by his cherished grandsons, Pierce and Chase Tutak.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during a Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:45 AM on Friday 7/17/2026 prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Ann’s Church, Quincy at 10:30 AM. Cremation will follow. 

John’s legacy lives on in the family he loved and the many lives he touched through his kindness, craftsmanship, and love of learning.