Melvin E. Laughton

Melvin E. Laughton, 76, of Shrewsbury, passed away unexpectedly at home on Thursday, November 21, 2024. He was the husband of Barbara J. (Kiezulas) Laughton.

Born in Portland, ME, he was the son of the late June M. (Willard) Laughton. He was raised in Eastport, ME and attended Eastport High School and Tahanto Regional High School.

During the Vietnam Era he served as a medic in the United States Army and was proud to have served alongside members of both the Army and the Marines.

He graduated from Worcester State College where he earned two master’s degrees in education and in administration. He was chosen by his peers to be Class Marshal at Commencement.

Mel was a school administrator and teacher at Algonquin Regional High School for many years prior to his retirement. He enjoyed sharing his passion for learning with his peers and students.

He was a communicant of St. Luke the Evangelist Church and was a member of the Marlborough Eagles. He loved all sports, competed in Westborough and Marlborough Men’s Softball Leagues, and was an assistant football coach at Algonquin Regional High School. 

He was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman and loved the ever-changing New England weather. He also enjoyed a wide variety of music, and owned hundreds of albums spanning from Rock and Roll and Blues to Andrea Bocelli.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Richard J. Laughton and his wife, Jessica, of Manchester, NH: three sisters, Susan Brown of Eastport, ME, DeeDee Sears of Michigan and Tobi Wuchter of Eastport, ME.

He was predeceased by his brother, Arthur Grimm.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 3rd, at 10:30 A.M. in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough, MA. Burial, with military honors, will follow in St. Luke’s Cemetery.

Calling hours will be at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough, on Monday, December 2nd, from 5 to 7 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Algonquin Athletic Booster Club and/or the Wounded Warrior Project.