Former Woburn Mayor John Gilgun Dies at 92

Former Woburn Mayor John ‘Jack’ Gilgun passed away peacefully at his home on Nov. 5, with his family by his side. Gilgun, a loyal son of Woburn, was 92 years of age.

Gilgun was elected mayor in 1960 and held office until 1964. His love of the city showed forth in so many ways that improved Woburn for generations to come.

For the elderly, Gilgun started the Senior Citizens Organization in 1961, providing social gatherings and housing for the elderly. Woburn was the second city in the commonwealth to provide senior housing. For the youth, he was an original incorporator of the Boys and Girls club, increasing the number of supervised playgrounds. He also started Winter Wonderland for the children during the winter months. Woburn’s quality public school system was dramatically expanded when he built several new schools for Woburn’s growing population.

Gilgun was elected president of the Mayors of America in May 1961, and presented a “Declaration of Unity” to President Kennedy at the White House signed by mayors across the U.S.A.

His proudest accomplishment was being able, against all odds, to obtain from the legislature all the land on the Woburn Parkway side of Horn Pond, protecting it from future development. In December of 1961, Gilgun was able to secure that acreage and deed it to the city, thereby saving it for the future citizens of Woburn to enjoy.

Gilgun was a man of faith, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and a loving friend to countless individuals. He enriched many lives with his compassion and generosity and will be missed by many.

During WWII he was a member of the Army Air Corps. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, DAV of Woburn, Woburn Elks, and Woburn KofC.

In addition to his parents, John was sadly predeceased by his siblings Mary Cullinane, Rose Gilgun, Helen Gilgun, Fr Bernard E. Gilgun, Richard E. Gilgun, and Laurence P. Gilgun.

He is lovingly survived by his wife, Rosemarie; his daughter, Rosemarie (Gilgun) Sage of Falmouth; his siblings, Margaret Collamore of Peabody, Honorable Frederick V. Gilgun and his wife Dorothy, and David I. Gilgun, all of Woburn; and his grandchild, John C. Sage.

A funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home at 263 Main Street in Woburn on Friday, Nov. 13 at 10:15 a.m., followed by a funeral mass in St. Charles Church at 280 Main Street. Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours, on Thursday, from 3-7 p.m. Remembrances may be made in John’s memory to St. Charles Church.

Information courtesy of Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home