John L. Ferreir

John L. Ferreira, 81, of Falmouth, a longtime Falmouth police chief, died at Falmouth Hospital on November 8 after 2 1/2 years battling heart problems among other ailments.
He was the husband of Ann (Cummings) Ferreira for 61 years.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel L. Ferreira, he grew up in East Falmouth and joined the US Navy at the age of 17. During World War II he served on the USS Henry T. Allen and drove the landing crafts.  
After being honorably discharged, he joined the Falmouth Police Department in 1950, but was recalled by the Navy in 1951 during the Korean War. While in the Navy he was in Luzon, Lingayen Gulf, Manila, and the Pasig River.  
After his second stint with the Navy he rejoined the Falmouth Police Department, becoming a sergeant in 1957 and deputy chief in 1960. He was one of the select few from around the country to attend a 12-week course at the FBI National Academy. In 1962, at the age of 34, he became the chief of police. He served as chief for 17 years, retiring in January 1980.  
During retirement he drove the senior citizen bus and the Steamship Authority bus until his vision failed.  
He enjoyed bowling, fishing, golfing, even making a hole-in-one, hunting, and flying (he earned his pilot’s license in 1950). He was an accomplished wood carver, winning many first-place awards at the Barnstable County Fair.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Lawrence Ferreira of Falmouth, Karen DePonte of East Falmouth, and Kathy Leary of Falmouth; five grandchildren, John DePonte of East Falmouth, Alison Silanskas, Bethany Ferreira, Kara Leary, and Sean Leary, all of Falmouth; and a sister, Genevieve Condon of Florida.
Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 PM today, in Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Falmouth.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 tomorrow morning at St. Anthony’s Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway, followed by burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.  
Donations may be made to Perkins School for the Blind Perkins Trust Office, 175 N. Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02472; American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701; or the American Heart Association, Heart Gifts Processing Center, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.