John I. Baliunas

John I. Baliunas, 84, of Westborough, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 13, 2017.

Born in Cambridge, he was the son of the late James I. Balunas and Stella (Budrewicz) Balunas Dulka. He was raised and educated in Norwood and was a graduate of Norwood High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Clark University and a master’s in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College.

During the Korean Conflict he served with the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

John was a member of the Massachusetts State Police for 24 years, attaining the rank of Corporal and working as a crime scene photographer. Following his retirement he worked as a real estate broker for Dorothy Hickox Real Estate, a freelance wedding photographer, and as a funeral assistant at Rand and Harper Funeral Home.

He was a member of St. Luke the Evangelist Church and of the John Boyle O’Reilly Council 85, Knights of Columbus.

John is survived by one son, John F. Baliunas and his wife, Betsy, of Martha’s Vineyard; three daughters, Lynda Baliunas of Westborough, Patricia Baliunas of Gardner and Michelle Baliunas and her husband, Doug Hanchett, of Sterling; five grandchildren, Tara Slysz, Ben Hanchett, Anya Hanchett, Jocelyn Baliunas and John William Baliunas.

His funeral service, with State Police Honors, will be on Thursday, May 18, at 11:00 A.M. in the David A. Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to American Liver Foundation.