John Whalen

John Whalen was born in Waltham as the oldest child of Doris and John Whalen II, and soon became the big brother to Judy and Jimmy. While attending Waltham High School, he met the love of his life, Frances “Frani” Dunn. They were married shortly after John’s graduation from Bentley University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

In 1974, he welcomed his first daughter, Sandy, his second daughter, Chrissy, in 1976, and completed a move to Hopkinton, where he and Fran would raise their family. John worked his way up the ranks to VP/comptroller at ComEnergy/NSTAR in Cambridge, from where he would eventually retire to Florida in the early 2000s. He was a devoted father, spending all his time with his girls as they both pursued their skating passions. Whether it was buying an RV to drive cross-country for competitions or getting up and driving to 6 a.m. practices, John was always there with his larger-than-life camera to document the good, the bad and the ugly! He rediscovered his love of fishing and hunting over the years, and spent countless seasons doing both in Minnesota, Pennsylvania and New York, where he kept his boat, The Comptroller. While he and Fran took the girls on many adventures to Disney World, Hawaii and more, his passion for travel took the two of them on amazing adventures that included countless trips to Disney World, with and without the kids, Napa Valley with Judy and Billy, Alaska, Europe, South Africa, China, Australia and more. When it was time to stay stateside again, they both loved heading back to their roots in New England and spending time in New Hampshire with Judy.

Over the years, he welcomed sons-in-law Jeremy and Bryan into the family, and found the deepest love and his proudest times when he was promoted from father to grandfather, or as he was called, “Pap.” TJ, Jack, and Nick came first, along with many trips to Minnesota for birthdays, basketball games, hunting and fishing. Kendall, Samantha and Abby came next, creating tons of memories with Disney trips, soccer games and musical shows that lit up Pap’s eyes. They will all miss his guidance, strength and support.

John passed away on July 14, 2024, at the age of 76. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Doris Deveaux Whalen, brother James “Jimmy” Whalen, and brother-in-law William “Billy” Rourke. He is survived by his adoring wife of over 55 years, Frances “Fran” Whalen, oldest daughter Sandy Whalen Rebrovich, son-in-law Jeremy Rebrovich, and grandsons Thomas John “TJ” (John’s namesake), Jack and Nick Rebrovich, youngest daughter Chrissy Whalen Morton, son-in-law Bryan Morton, granddaughters Kendall, Samantha and Abigail Morton, and his sister, Judy Rourke.

A funeral service was held July 17 at the Loving Funeral Home Churchland Chapel in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.