John Paul Rimas

John Paul Rimas, 83, of Seabrook, NH, and originally from Methuen, MA, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, February 28, 2022, surrounded by his family.

The son of the late Anthony F. and Helen V. (Stackelin) Rimas, John was born in Methuen, MA on June 24, 1938.  He attended Methuen schools.  John graduated from Tenney High School in 1956 and went on to graduate from Merrimack College (Class of 1960), where he received the first basketball scholarship and held many basketball records.  He played semi-professional basketball for the Lawrence Merchants from 1961 to 1966.  John was a  veteran having served active duty in the United States Air Force Reserves during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis.  John committed 38 years to the Methuen School System where he taught, coached, and was an administrator until he retired in 1999. John also served as an elected member of the Methuen School Committee.

John enjoyed hunting, fishing and tending to his koi fishpond and garden, but his favorite passion was spending time with his family and many friends, and his loyal dog Kaidyn.

Predeceased by his father, Anthony, his mother, Helen, and his brother, Anthony J. Rimas, John is survived by his wife Jean R. (Pearson) Rimas of Seabrook; his son, John Rimas of Roslindale, MA and his children Sean, Liam, Kelly, Alison, and Michael; his daughter, Karyn of York, ME, and her husband Jeff Baker and their children, Layne, Emlyn, Anna, Brianna and Nathan; his son, David Rimas of West Orange, NJ and his children, Benjamin and Danielle, and his daughter, Amy of Seabrook, NH, his nephew and several cousins and their families.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to a Funeral Mass on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 289 Lafayette Rd. (Route 1), Hampton, NH.  The family will be meeting relatives and friends beginning at 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Church.  The Mass will be live-streamed at www.olmmparish.org .

Per John’s desire, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions in John’s Memory be made to The Warrior Fund at Merrimack College (https:/www.merrimack.edu/giving/the-warrior-fund/).

That’s life.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Dewhirst and Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.  For directions and online condolences, please visit www.dewhirstbolesfuneral.com .

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