Obituary for John R. Jorge, Chief
John R. Jorge, Retired Ludlow Police Chief, died on Monday, March 14, 2011, with his family by his side. Born March 27, 1928, in Ludlow, he was the son of Luciana and Jose Ribeiro Jorge. John was a graduate of Ludlow High School - class of 1946. While in high school he worked part-time for the Ludlow Mfg. Co. In 1953 he was appointed a Ludlow Police Officer.
 In 1955, he attended the State Police Academy earning the honor of being number one in his class; attended Law Enforcement classes at Springfield College, American International College, Babson, and Northeastern University. John served in the National Guards Co. "D" 104th Infantry 1947-1950. In 1958, he was promoted to Sergeant and in 1966 to Lieutenant. In 1968, he was appointed Chief and held that position until 1993. At the time of his appointment he was the youngest police chief in Western Mass. During his twenty-five year career as Chief, John was credited with de-centralizing the department into small bureaus including Safety, Crime, Juvenile, Detective and the DARE Program.
 In an effort to bring the Police Department closer to the residents, John established the Policeman’s Ball, the Special Police, and the weekly Police Messages in the Register. At the time of his retirement, John said that his greatest achievement as Chief was his force, the men and women that served along side of him. John wore Badge No. 1 in the Western Mass Chiefs Association and was the longest serving Chief in the four western counties at the time he retired on March 31, 1993, after 40 years of service and 25 years as Chief.
 John was a member of the International Association of Police Chiefs, New England Police Chiefs, MA Chiefs of Police, MA Police Association, Western MA Chiefs of Police, Hampden County Deputy Sheriffs Association and The Western MA Gold Badge Honorary Member. John was also a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish Council, Ludlow Lions, Ludlow Country Club, Unity Club, Portuguese American Citizens Club, Gremio Lusitano Club, Ludlow Boys’ and Girls’ Club, LAF Soccer Booster Club and the Ludlow Police Association. When John retired in 1993, he donated all of the proceeds from his retirement party to the Jimmy Fund and established an annual golf tournament.
In 1989, John and Tony Salvador founded the "Night in Portugal Scholarship Fund". John also chaired many of the golf tournaments for the scholarship fund. As of this year, $130,000.00 in scholarships have been awarded to Ludlow High School graduates of Portuguese descent who have achieved high academic honors.
John enjoyed playing golf and going to the races. His favorite motto was "treat others as you wish to be treated". He was always ready to help anyone. He enjoyed time spent with his family and particularly his grandchildren.
John was predeceased by his son John on September 18, 2000. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beatrice (Mendes), daughter Jo Ann, son-in-law Frank Gleason, grandchildren Elizabeth, Olivia and Elias of Ashland, MA, sisters, Mary and Grace Evangelista, sister-in-law Irene Jorge of Lincoln, RI, sister-in-law Mimi and her husband Manuel R. DaSilva and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his brothers Joe and wife Albie, Fermino and his wife Alice and Virgilio.
A heartfelt thank you to Chief McGowan and the Ludlow Police Department, Ludlow Fire Department and Paramedics for their help, support and professionalism. Also to my Two Lindas for their help and support and to Tommy Petrolati and my caring neighbors who were always there to help.
Funeral services will be on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 10:00am from Ludlow Funeral Home with Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00am in Our Lady of Fatima Church followed by burial in Island Pond Cemetery. Visiting hours are on Thurday from 3-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Chief Jorge to Our Lady of Fatima Church Winsor St. Ludlow, Ma. 01056, the Jimmy Fund / Dana Farber Institute 10 Brookline Place West 6th Floor Brookline, Ma. 02446 or The Ludlow Boys and Girls 91 Claudia Way Ludlow, Ma. 01056.
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 In 1955, he attended the State Police Academy earning the honor of being number one in his class; attended Law Enforcement classes at Springfield College, American International College, Babson, and Northeastern University. John served in the National Guards Co. "D" 104th Infantry 1947-1950. In 1958, he was promoted to Sergeant and in 1966 to Lieutenant. In 1968, he was appointed Chief and held that position until 1993. At the time of his appointment he was the youngest police chief in Western Mass. During his twenty-five year career as Chief, John was credited with de-centralizing the department into small bureaus including Safety, Crime, Juvenile, Detective and the DARE Program.
 In an effort to bring the Police Department closer to the residents, John established the Policeman’s Ball, the Special Police, and the weekly Police Messages in the Register. At the time of his retirement, John said that his greatest achievement as Chief was his force, the men and women that served along side of him. John wore Badge No. 1 in the Western Mass Chiefs Association and was the longest serving Chief in the four western counties at the time he retired on March 31, 1993, after 40 years of service and 25 years as Chief.
 John was a member of the International Association of Police Chiefs, New England Police Chiefs, MA Chiefs of Police, MA Police Association, Western MA Chiefs of Police, Hampden County Deputy Sheriffs Association and The Western MA Gold Badge Honorary Member. John was also a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish Council, Ludlow Lions, Ludlow Country Club, Unity Club, Portuguese American Citizens Club, Gremio Lusitano Club, Ludlow Boys’ and Girls’ Club, LAF Soccer Booster Club and the Ludlow Police Association. When John retired in 1993, he donated all of the proceeds from his retirement party to the Jimmy Fund and established an annual golf tournament.
In 1989, John and Tony Salvador founded the "Night in Portugal Scholarship Fund". John also chaired many of the golf tournaments for the scholarship fund. As of this year, $130,000.00 in scholarships have been awarded to Ludlow High School graduates of Portuguese descent who have achieved high academic honors.
John enjoyed playing golf and going to the races. His favorite motto was "treat others as you wish to be treated". He was always ready to help anyone. He enjoyed time spent with his family and particularly his grandchildren.
John was predeceased by his son John on September 18, 2000. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beatrice (Mendes), daughter Jo Ann, son-in-law Frank Gleason, grandchildren Elizabeth, Olivia and Elias of Ashland, MA, sisters, Mary and Grace Evangelista, sister-in-law Irene Jorge of Lincoln, RI, sister-in-law Mimi and her husband Manuel R. DaSilva and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his brothers Joe and wife Albie, Fermino and his wife Alice and Virgilio.
A heartfelt thank you to Chief McGowan and the Ludlow Police Department, Ludlow Fire Department and Paramedics for their help, support and professionalism. Also to my Two Lindas for their help and support and to Tommy Petrolati and my caring neighbors who were always there to help.
Funeral services will be on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 10:00am from Ludlow Funeral Home with Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00am in Our Lady of Fatima Church followed by burial in Island Pond Cemetery. Visiting hours are on Thurday from 3-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Chief Jorge to Our Lady of Fatima Church Winsor St. Ludlow, Ma. 01056, the Jimmy Fund / Dana Farber Institute 10 Brookline Place West 6th Floor Brookline, Ma. 02446 or The Ludlow Boys and Girls 91 Claudia Way Ludlow, Ma. 01056.
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