Barnstable, Mass.
- John K. Reader, worked for NFL, WWII veteran
John Kenneth Reader, 82, previously of Edison, N.J., and recently of Yarmouth Port, died Nov. 10 in Hingham after battling cancer.
He was the husband of Anna C. (Moriarty) Reader for 45 years.
Born in Lawrence,
he was raised in Methuen
and graduated from Central Catholic High School. He was later named to the school’s Hall of Fame as a distinguished alumnus and outstanding athlete.
Staff Sgt. Reader served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. He was awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters for meritorious achievement for his 27 missions as a B-17 tail-gunner. He was honorably discharged from the Mighty Eighth Air Force, 96th Heavy Bombardment Group.
He received his bachelor’s degree from The College of the Holy Cross in 1950, where he played varsity football for the Crusaders.
Mr. Reader worked for the National Football League for more than 46 years. He was a professional on-field official for both the American and National Football Leagues for more than 15 seasons and worked Super Bowls I and III. He then became Supervisor of Officials in the NFL's headquarters in New York City — a position he held for decades.
He enjoyed sporting events of all kinds, played golf and was an avid Red Sox fan.
He leaves two sons, Jack Reader of Hingham and Paul Reader of Chatham, N.J.; a daughter, Patricia Merlin of Duxbury; and six grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was held at St. Paul's Church in Hingham. Burial is in the Mary Immaculate Cemetery in Lawrence.
Memorial donations may be made to the HHT Foundation International Inc., P.O. Box 329, Monkton, MD,

St. Paul's Church,"