John Regis Kovalcik Jr.

John Regis Kovalcik Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, entrepreneur, Navy fighter pilot, and friend, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2026, after a courageous two year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 70 years old, having just celebrated his birthday surrounded by the family he loved so deeply. John lived a life defined by faith, discipline, resilience, adventure, and unwavering devotion to his family. His personal motto, “PRESS ON,” was more than a phrase – it was the way he lived every single day.

Born on May 17, 1956, in Cayuga Falls, Ohio to John Sr. and Dolores Kovalcik, John Regis Kovalcik Jr. was the oldest of four brothers. John attended the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and was class of 1978 - one of the most prestigious classes in USNA history. It was there at a dance after the Army-Navy Football Game where he met his future wife, Loren. John was the devoted husband of Loren Beth Kovalcik for 47 remarkable years. They were an amazing couple, deeply in love, fiercely loyal to one another, and true partners. The beautiful life they had together was rooted in faith, family, adventure, hard work, and unconditional love. After serving his country as a Navy fighter pilot in Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151), John joined his brothers in the family business, Computerware. His career eventually brought him to Boston, where he went on to found IntePros and IntePros Federal. For more than 30 years, John poured his relentless energy, competitive spirit, and entrepreneurial drive into building companies that created opportunity and impacted countless lives. For all of his professional accomplishments, nothing mattered more to John than his family.

He was an extraordinary father to his four children, Dan, Chris, Anston, and Madison, and a constant presence in their lives. He coached their teams, attended every game and event he possibly could, and taught by example what hard work, discipline, accountability, and perseverance looked like. John believed there was no challenge too difficult if you were willing to outwork the problem and never quit. Whether he was seal coating the driveway, installing flag poles, replacing shingles, fixing air conditioners, or tackling projects most people would hire others to do, he took pride in doing things himself and teaching his children the value of hard work and self-reliance.

John was equally devoted to his role as Grandpa. He adored his grandchildren, and created lifelong memories with them through boating, fishing, golfing, skiing, flying, biking, and family adventures. Just this past February, John joined his family on a ski trip to Quechee, Vermont, where he may very well have been the oldest snowboarder on the mountain.

John approached his battle with cancer the same way he approached everything in life: with grit, intensity, faith, and determination. Even while undergoing chemotherapy, he remained committed to his health and fitness, often running three miles the day after treatment and working out for as long as his body physically allowed. He fought until the very end. A devout Catholic, John’s faith anchored every chapter of his life. He prayed the rosary daily and made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, last year, a trip that held deep spiritual meaning for him. In his final days, surrounded by family, John showed the same courage and grace that defined his life. The Kovalcik family is deeply grateful to the friends in the Young Presidents’ Organization YPO for the introduction to Dr. James Cleary and the team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Their extraordinary care, compassion, and honesty was appreciated throughout John’s journey.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Loren; his children: Dan and wife, Amanda; Chris and wife, Kelsey; Anston and husband, LCDR Magnus Perkins; and Madison and dog, Tootsie; his cherished grandchildren: Alex, Claire, Audrey, Owen, Ronan, Griffin, Nimitz, and Sperry; his brothers: Jim and wife, Sue; Tom and wife, Daniela; and Dave and wife, Karen; brother-in-law, Robert Anston and wife, Linda; and many nieces, nephews, colleagues, friends, and loved ones who will forever carry his memory forward.

PRESS ON.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, June 4, at the Holden, Dunn & Lawler Funeral Home in Westwood, MA from 3-7:00 PM.

A Funeral Mass celebrating John’s life will be held on Friday, June 5, at 11:00 AM at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Needham, MA, followed by a reception at Charles River Country Club in Newton, MA at 12:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Dr. James Cleary's Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 by phone at 1-800-525-4669 or http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/jamescleary. If sending a check, please include "In Memory of John Kovalcik" in the memo line