John Patrick Needham

John Needham was born in 1934 to Peter J. and Helen M. Needham (Whalen). John passed away at home in Quincy, MA, on Sunday, July 26, 2026. He grew up in South Boston, attended St. Augustine’s Elementary School, and later graduated from Cathedral High School. John went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Management from Northeastern University. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Peter Austin, and his sister, Sarah Ellen.

After completing a four-year apprenticeship, John began his career as a first-class shipboard electrician at the Boston Naval Shipyard, working on naval warships. He continued his career at Bethlehem Steel in the Quincy shipyard as an electrical planning engineer. Later, at General Dynamics in Groton, CT, he contributed to nuclear-powered warships and submarines as a planning engineer. John was then transferred to the Quincy shipyard, where he became the chief planning engineer for the three Apollo Tracking ships built for NASA. He also served as a senior planning engineer at Stone & Webster Engineering Corp., working on nuclear power plants nationwide. Throughout his life, John worked with various companies on oil refineries and chemical plants. He eventually retired after consulting for the Boeing Aircraft Company, assisting with a major software upgrade in production control.

John is survived by his nieces and nephew, Gina, Tina, Lisa, and John. He was a longtime member of the Snow Bounders Ski Club in New Hampshire, a passionate world traveler, and cherished time with his family and friends.

John was lovingly welcomed by the Collins family, Tom and Mary, and became a surrogate uncle to their children and grandchildren.

Visitation will be held for family and friends on August 2nd from 4:00pm-6:00pm at Hamel-Lydon Chapel located at 650 Hancock Street Quincy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on the following morning on August 3rd at 10:00am Sacred Heart Church 386 Hancock Street Quincy.