We regret to inform of the passing of Retired Cohasset Police Chief John A. DeBassio, age 86, of Norton, who passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the Edith Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford. He was the beloved husband of Deborah M. (Johnson) DeBassio, to whom he was wed for the past 17 years.
Mr. DeBassio had an extensive education in law enforcement which included receiving an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Massasoit Community College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement at Stonehill College, and later a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice at Northeastern University and a certificate at the FBI National Academy 104th Session in Quantico, Virginia.
John began his career in law enforcement for the City of Brockton Police Department, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant. He retired as the Chief of Police for the town of Cohasset, and following retirement he served as the Head of Security at the Foxboro Co., Head of Safety and Security at Motorola and Codex in Mansfield and as Head of Safety and Security for the Pinkerton’s at the Prudential Center in Boston.
John was a member of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and also taught his knowledge of law enforcement at the colleges he graduated from. He had made his home in Norton for the past seventeen years, and his hobbies included golfing and spending winter months with his wife in Fort Myers, Florida.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his devoted children John DeBassio and his wife Angela of Malden, Theresa Clark of Winter Garden, Florida and her late husband George, and Deborah’s children Mandi Goodwin of Norton and Norton Police Sergeant John Goodwin and his wife Janey of Norton. He was the dear brother of Lois Kelley of Abington and is also survived by his adoring 10 grandchildren.
His funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Friday, October 7th at 12 Noon in St. Mary’s Church, 1 Power St., Norton. Burial will follow with military honors at 2:15 P.M. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, October 6th from5:00-8:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp St. (Off Route 140, Taunton Ave.) Norton.
Due to the limitation of flowers at the National cemetery, John’s family has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or the DAV, State House, Room 546, Boston, MA 02133.
To send his family a message of condolence, please visitwww.nortonmemorial.com
