John Hebb

Hebb, John MacMillan “Jack” of Sandown, NH – Formerly of Wakefield NH and Randolph, Massachusetts. 

January 1928 – May 2024

Jack Hebb, 96 years young of Sandown, NH passed away on May 12^th Mother’s Day in the presence of his loving family. Beloved husband of 72 years of Marie of Sandown, NH, formerly of Wakefield, NH and Randolph, MA. Loving father to his three children, Sally (Daryl) of Sandown, NH, Susan Hebb of Whitman, MA, and Stephen Hebb (Denise) of Baden, PA.

Jack was born in Boston, MA and grew up as a young man in both Milton, MA., and Brownfield, ME. along with his parents and five siblings. Predeceased by his parents Angus and Gertrude. Jack was also the last of his siblings. Predeceased by darling sister J. Barbara Dynan (Stuart, FL), cherished brothers, Robert Hebb (Randoph, MA.), James Douglas Hebb (Hanover, MA.), Donald Hebb (Las Vegas, NV.), and Neil Hebb (Hope, ME.). Over the years he would often speak of how he missed each of them dearly.

Jack was an adventurous soul from an early age who loved spending time with family and friends, over the years having get togethers, playing cards, horseshoes, darts, and bass fishing; he had a good sense of humor and loved to laugh. He had a zest for life and enjoyed being in nature and loved gardening, woodworking, fishing, and the ocean/lakes and outdoors. At the early age of 16 he left home and joined the United States Merchant Marines in 1944, trained at Sheepshead Bay, NY and ventured out as an Ordinary Seaman on one of his first journeys aboard the S.S. George H. Williams bound for Calcutta, India; crossing the equator as a “shellback” in December of 1944, just before his 17^th birthday.

After a few years in the Merchant Marines traveling the world, Jack went on to enlist full time in the United States Marine Corps. Jack proudly served his country over a period of 21 years and honorably discharged at the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant. His military life took him to England, China, Korea, Guam, and many other places both far abroad and U.S. stateside.

Jack and his wife Marie raised their family early on first in North Carolina and later relocating to settle into the community of Randolph, Massachusetts. They enjoyed many long friendships and good times over the years living in Randolph. Upon retirement from the Marines, Jack went to work for his brother at Angus E. Hebb & Son doing residential building and carpentry, working on many of the large estate properties, mostly in the Milton MA area. Later upon retiring from work life, Jack and Marie relocated to Wakefield, NH where they made many cherished friendships over the years and were involved with the Wakefield community. Jack was a Christian and while admittedly not a church goer, he embraced Christian values and since the time he was a young man he strongly believed in helping others; whether family, neighbors, or strangers; most especially those less fortunate. He donated his time and skills and helped where he saw he could.

Jack will tell you himself he was lucky and had a good life and a long life and if you knew him he loved to share the stories and colors of an ordinary life and how it shapes you. There was the story of getting his first job at Mrs. McGinley’s Estate in Milton, taking a train down from Brownfield, Maine in the summer as a young lad of twelve to interview (and get the job) to work under the tutelage of an experienced gardener on how to tend the extensive gardens of such a property. He had many stories of  Brownfield ME where his family had to move after his father lost his business in the great depression; he would tell you about that time of having to give  up the finer things such as having  a housekeeper and grocery deliveries from S.S. Pierce to their Milton home and having to  move  to the outpost of Maine, starting over and having to plough fields with his siblings and plant potatoes in the rocky soil; how to cook pigweed and tend chicken coops and all that goes along with now having an outdoor privy. In later years, life would stabilize for the family, and they would return to live in Milton, MA but Jack remembered those days and he embraced the good times and the tough times equally and mostly what he remembered fondly were the people with whom he shared those times.

Yes Jack would tell you of his life and all of his adventures that took him around the world on liberty ships carrying important cargo in support of our military and later his adventures in the USMC.

From time to time, there would be a new story; all of them told by an ordinary man who had the fortune to live an extraordinary and long life, rich in family and friends.

Jack leaves behind many adored nieces and nephews, sister, and brother in laws here in the U.S. and Canada, along with good friends and extended family. He also leaves his beloved grandchildren John Hebb, Abigail Hebb, Tyler Hebb, Noah Hebb all of Baden, PA and Landis Nadeau of Sandown, NH.

In memory of Jack, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, or a tree planted in support of the future of God’s green earth.

ARRANGEMENTS: Interment will be in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH. Plans are forthcoming for a memorial celebration of Jack’s life in September at Boscawen; the family will later announce the date. Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Hampton. To view John's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.