John W. Cass Sr.

John Wesley Cass Sr., 77, resident of Milford, NH, died on January 16, 2026, at the Community Hospice House, Merrimack, NH after a 7-year battle with Parkinson's.

He was born in Plymouth, NH on November 6, 1948, a son of Robert P. and Margaret S. (Jenness) Cass. John grew up in the Bridgewater/Ashland, NH area. He became a devoted member of Boy Scout Troop 50 which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. John graduated from Newfound High School in Bristol, NH, Class of 1966 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Education from Keene State College, Class of 1970.

After working for MacMillan Construction for two years after graduation, he became an employee of Al Melanson Roofing Co. in Keene. He worked out of the Keene site before transferring to the Bow, NH division. After 47 years of dedicated loyal employment to Melanson, he retired in January 2019.

On February 19, 1972, he married Patricia (Pat, Patty) Ritzenthaler. They moved to Milford in 1972, where they raised their children, Jaime and John.

His love of the Boy Scout program continued as his son joined Boy Scouts. He became active in the Boy Scout community in Milford. He was Cubmaster of Pack 4 and Scoutmaster of Troop 4. John enjoyed working with the Scouts, especially camping at Camp Carpenter, Woonsocket and Greenfield State Parks, and at many Camporees throughout the years. He also volunteered to be a Badge Counselor and guided several Scouts in their quest to earn their Eagle Awards. John also served as co-coordinator with Pat of the food drive hosted by Souhegan Valley Scouting for Food each Fall. On the Saturday of pickup, he could be seen at the collection site: packing, sorting, and loading boxes of food stuff into the trucks of the local food pantries.

While his children were in school, he could be found on the sidelines enthusiastically cheering them on in all their activities – whether it be football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, track, marching band, or dance. He also volunteered with the MCAA as a soccer and basketball coach.

He continued to be a cheerleader for his grandchildren – at soccer, track, and volleyball games, dance recitals, and orchestra concerts.

John loved the time he spent with his family during the annual one-week vacation to the Laramie Cottage on Crystal Lake in Enfield, teaching his grandchildren how to fish, canoe and kayak. He loved showing the kids all NH has to offer as he took them on “side trips” – Santa’s Village, Storyland, Clark’s Bears, The Flume, and Mt. Washington. They also enjoyed trips to Niagara Falls, Washington, DC, and Disney World together.

John had several medical issues throughout the years. In 2001 he endured a 10-hour cancer reconstruction surgery. Although the future was not certain, he was a true fighter who faced the procedures head on. Because of this attitude, he was a cancer survivor, which gave us twenty-five more years of his presence and love. We watched him fight valiantly once again over the past seven years as Parkinson’s overtook him.

He will be remembered for the strength he showed us all during those difficult times, his loyalty, devotion, and support and love at all times.

He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees, never leaving home without his NY Yankees cap, which inevitably drew comments from those he encountered wearing the opponent’s cap. John enjoyed this back-and-forth banter with the opposition. He also enjoyed our annual trips to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, where the Yankee spirit was evident everywhere.

John was predeceased by his mother, Margaret S. Cass; his brother, CPL Frank L. Cass (March 1971 KIA South Vietnam), his sister, Diana L. Cass (March 1971) and several aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia (Pat, Patty) Ritzenthaler Cass; daughter, Jaime Perez (Mike) of Oxford, MA; son, John W. Cass, Jr. of Wilton; grandson, Michael W. LaFlash of Worcester, MA; and granddaughter, Emily (his “PJ”) LaFlash of Tampa, FL; a brother, G. Brian Cass (Donna) of Shelter Island, NY; and sister, Brenda D. Cass-Grace and her significant other Phil Bourgeois of Canaan, NY; an aunt and uncle, and many cousins.

Visiting hours are on Friday, January 23rd from 3:00-6:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 26th at 1:00pm in Pine Grove Cemetery, 765 Brown Ave (entrance at 450 Calef Road) Manchester, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Share Outreach, Inc., 1 Columbus Avenue, Milford, NH 03055 or to Community Hospice House, c/o Home Health & Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com