John ‘Jack’ Curry who was the university’s fifth president passes away at the age of 88. He was also renowned as a trailblazer in the field of higher education.
On Friday, former public school teacher and Northeastern University leader John A. “Jack” Curry passed away at his home in Saugus, Massachusetts. He had served at the university for 30 years. He lived to be 88.
Curry completed his high school education at Lynn English in 1951 and went on to earn a degree in 1956 from Northeastern University. He earned his master’s degree in teaching from Northeastern in 1960 and his Ph.D. from Boston University in 1980.
He and his wife of over 60 years, Marica, had made their home in Saugus, MA, where they had also brought up their children. John is survived by his daughter Susan (Curry) Brown of Saugus, his son Timothy Curry and his wife Susan (Moriello) Curry of Saugus, and their respective spouses, and their son Robert Curry and his wife Claire (LeBlanc) Curry of Waltham.
James Brown, Jessica Jaklitsch, Nicole Kroll, Melissa Deming, Christopher Curry, Courtney Curry, and their wives, are among his six grandkids who survive him. His younger brother, Martin Curry, and seven of his beloved great-grandchildren survive him.
While public universities like UMass-Boston were growing in popularity during Curry’s presidency, Northeastern became “smaller and better” because of his leadership.
While serving as president from 1989 to 1996, Curry boosted the university’s research and academic standards and redirected Northeastern’s programs to better serve students’ academic success, professional development, and personal and intellectual development.
After graduating from Lynn English High School in 1954, Curry attended Northeastern University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1956 and his master’s degree in 1960.
Have a look at this tweet by Northeastern University, in memory of their leader:
From alum to admissions counselor to president of #Northeastern. John A. “Jack” Curry will be remembered for his visionary and transformative leadership. https://t.co/b0vM8gP3kC
— Northeastern U. (@Northeastern) April 23, 2023
Prior to attending Boston University and getting his doctorate in education in 1980, Curry worked as a classroom teacher in the public schools of Bourne, Saugus, and Newton, Massachusetts. Being the assistant principal at a junior high school in Saugus was his first experience in educational leadership.
Curry also oversaw the installation of a campus-wide computer network and invited former president Bill Clinton to speak at Northeastern’s 91st Commencement Ceremony in 1993.
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Over the course of his retirement, Curry penned and released nine novels, the most recent of which is titled “Running in Lane One.” At the beginning of his career, Curry was a co-op student at Northeastern, working under then-President Carl Ell and Provost William White.
After graduating from the university in 1963, Curry worked his way up through the ranks to become the first graduate to hold the position of president.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bisbee Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus, Massachusetts. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Summer St., Saugus.
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