It is with great sadness that the family of John Richard Lucey announces his passing on April 15, 2025, at the age of 86. He died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, service, and love for his family, community, and the many children whose lives he touched as a coach and mentor.
Born in Great Barrington on November 24, 1938, John was the son of Grace and Robert Lucey. He attended Bryant Elementary School and Searles High School, where his love for his community and commitment to hard work were evident from a young age. At just eight years old, John began delivering The Berkshire Courier, later moving on to deliver The Berkshire Eagle to homes on the Hill. These early jobs instilled in him a sense of responsibility and work ethic that would remain with him throughout his life.
After high school, John worked at the First National Stores as a stocker and cashier. He also worked at Decker’s Auto in Sheffield and Dolby’s Florist in Great Barrington. At the age of 18, he made the decision to serve his country by joining the Army Reserve. His six months of active duty training included time at Fort Dix in New Jersey and Fort Jackson in South Carolina. Upon returning home, John continued his service with the Army Reserve, attending weekly meetings and training for two weeks each summer in New Hampshire. Through his connection with John Smochetti, then leader of the Army Reserve in Great Barrington and later at the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), John found a new career in camera work and offset printing.
In 1959, John met Anne Marie Pompi from Lee, and they were married on May 14, 1960. As a young couple—John 21 at the time and Anne 17—they began their journey together, first living in an apartment on Manville Street before purchasing their home on Warren Avenue in 1965. Their family grew with the addition of five children: Theresa, Michael, Robert, Mark, and Heather. John’s mother Grace lived with the family after her husband’s death until her passing in 1968, further cementing John’s deep commitment to family and caring for those around him.
John spent nine years working at AIER before moving on to The Lakeville Journal, where he worked on the camera and layout team during the era of letterpress printing. It was during this time that John suffered his first heart attack at the age of 32. After undergoing open-heart surgery in Boston, John returned to work at The Journal, where he continued for another two years before moving on to Kwik Print. He spent 28 years at Kwik Print, under the leadership of the Raifstanger family, and alongside his wife Anne for several years until retiring at the age of 64.
In his retirement, John’s outgoing nature led him to Bill’s Pharmacy, under the leadership of his good friend Steve Bannon, where he found fulfillment delivering prescriptions to people in the community. His work allowed him to form personal connections, bringing not just medications but also kindness, humor, and compassion to those in need. After 10 years, when Bill’s Pharmacy was sold to CVS, John moved on to work at Lenox Village Pharmacy, where he continued his work until his final retirement at age 80.
In 2017, John and Anne sold their family home and built a new one on the property of their son Mark and his wife Jenise. Anne resides there today, where John enjoyed the peace and happiness of being close to family.
A legacy of coaching and mentorship
Beyond his professional life, John was a passionate and dedicated coach, spending over 65 years volunteering for youth athletics. His love for baseball began in childhood, when he would play with friends and neighbors at Park Street Park in Great Barrington. John quickly recognized the value of the game not just for the skills it developed but for the life lessons it imparted. He began his coaching career in Little League, serving for 25 years, including five years as the league president.
John’s passion for baseball expanded into coaching the Babe Ruth team and the high school boys’ baseball team, which won the Berkshire County Championship under his leadership. However, his greatest passion was in girls’ basketball. In 1976, he founded the first local girls’ team, initially sponsored by Bill’s Pharmacy and later by the Knights of Columbus, which eventually became the well-known Golden Knights. His coaching style was characterized by a belief in the potential of every player and a commitment to teaching them not just the game but the lessons of life itself. John often said, “It is not the game that I am teaching out there, it is life.”
John created lifelong relationships with many of the athletes and youth volunteers he worked alongside in his 65 years of coaching. In his final months, he was deeply touched by all who sent messages, visited him, and shared with him how deeply he impacted their lives. Along with his many awards received, to see his young players grow into contributing adults was equally rewarding. Inspired by his wife and daughter Theresa as survivors, he was also deeply proud of the funds that the Golden Knights league raised for breast cancer awareness over the years through their annual tournaments.
John’s contributions to the community extended beyond the playing field or basketball court. He was instrumental in the development of the town’s parks, particularly the softball field and snack bar, and worked diligently to maintain and improve the town’s recreational facilities. His service to the Great Barrington Parks Department was one of the many ways he gave back to the community he loved so much.
A loving family man
John’s family was the heart of his life. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Anne Marie (Pompi) Lucey; his children, Theresa (Lucey) Rumph, Robert Lucey, Mark Lucey and wife Jenise, and Heather (Lucey) Twing and husband Gilbert; his brother William Lucey and wife Nancy; and 12 grandchildren, Amanda DiCroce, Madeline Lucey, Hunter Lucey (Mikala), John “Max” Lucey, Cody Lucey (Talore), Terrance Twing, Jasmine Twing, Blaise Twing, Bryn Lucey, Mallory Lucey, Jaelyn Lucey, and Reese Lucey. He also leaves behind four great-grandchildren, Nevaeh and Camrin Chelstowsk and Emmeline and Eleanora Lucey. He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. John was predeceased by his son Michael Lucey and his parents, Grace and Robert Lucey. It brought John comfort to know that he and his son would be laid to rest and celebrated in life together upon his passing.
John’s faith in God, his love for his family, and his passion for his gardens brought him immense joy. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Throughout his life, John showed remarkable strength, resilience, and dedication, both to his work and to those he loved. His legacy lives on not only in his family but in the countless lives he touched through his coaching, his work in the community, and the enduring friendships he built.
John Richard Lucey will be remembered as a man of service, compassion, and unwavering dedication to others. His impact on the lives of the people around him will not be forgotten, and his memory will continue to inspire those who knew him. His life was a testament to the power of service, and his memory will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him. Please always remember him, especially when you “wave goodbye.”
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, April 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., at the Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services and internment will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Great Barrington. Family will receive friends and relatives after the service at Berkshire South Regional Community Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to the Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Great Barrington or to Housatonic Youth Basketball directly or in care of Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to John’s family, please visit the funeral home’s website.
