Amherst, The Reverend John M. Balcom, of Amherst, passed away Jan. 3rd, 2017 at the age of 98, after a long illness. Born in Boston, Mass. on Nov. 16, 1918, to Rubric G. and Helena Grace (Sabean) Balcom, he grew up in Quincy, Mass., where he was a member of Christ Church and active in the YMCA. He was a graduate of Quincy High School, Mass. State College (UMASS Amherst) , the Episcopal Theological Seminary (EDS) , and Harvard Divinity School. In College he was active in many Christian organizations and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

He was ordained in Dec. 1942, and held parishes in Walpole and Norwood, and served in The Coast Guard Auxilliary. He visited Alaska in the summer of 1942, and helped build a new Church.  He returned to Alaska in 1944 as a Missionary for the Diocese of Alaska, serving in Ft. Yukon, Nenana, Tanacross and Fairbanks, Alaska, also visiting small villages along the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, as well as US Air Bases along the Alaskan Highway. He had a special relationship with the Athabascan Chief, John Healy in Healy Lake. He only returned to Massachusetts to marry his wife, Jeanne, in Amherst and visit Cape Cod, before taking up pastoral duties in Fairbanks until 1947.

During his long priesthood in the Diocese of Massachusetts, he served parishes in Holbrook, Chelmsford and Newton Highlands (St. Paul’s ) until his retirement in 1982. While in Newton, he was Protestant Chaplain at Boston University, UMass Boston, President of the Newton Council of Churches, Mayor’s Chaplain, and Fire and Police Chaplain and was given the Key to the City of Newton for his Service. He was also President of the Newton Rotary Club and active in the Masonic Lodges, as well as Order of the Eastern Star Organizations in both Newton and Amherst, and Royal Arch. He also was Monarch of the Mahded Grotto in Dedham, Mass. When retired to Amherst, he became a member of the Pelham Historical Society, Amherst Rotary Club, Wesleyan Methodist Church and Grace Episcopal Church.

John, also, made a “pulpit exchange” with his family, to a parish in Hook, Surrey, England from 1955-56. He and his family travelled extensively throughout Europe, the Mediteranian, Israel and Egypt, the United Kingdom, Iceland, the Caribbean, and visited all 50 United States. He leaves many friends in Germany and the UK.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jeanne Lindsey Balcom, his children; Dianne Balcom Manning and her husband Brian Manning, son John L. Balcom and his wife Marie Mandelow Balcom, and daughter Adrianne Balcom.  He leaves his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Lindsey Melchior and spouse Theron with daughters Camille and June Melchior, of Baltimore,MD; Jonathan Balcom and wife Sung, children Henry and Louisa of Wash. DC; and Benjamin Balcom Onthank of Natick, Mass.

Calling hours are at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 8th, 2-4 pm. Funeral Service will be at the Grace Episcopal Church, Boltwood Ave., Amherst, Mass., Monday, Jan. 9th at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. or Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst, Mass.