Former T&G executive editor John Widdison dies; oversaw merger of Telegram, Gazette
John P. Widdison, a longtime resident of Sterling and the last managing editor of The Evening Gazette, died Tuesday. He was 84.
Known affectionately to friends and family as “Woody,” Widdison began his newspaper career in 1962 as a reporter in the Clinton bureau of the newspapers. He served as regional desk chief, assistant regional editor, regional editor, assistant managing editor directing sports coverage of The Telegram, managing editor of The Telegram and later of The Gazette, and editor of the editorial pages. He also worked as a copy editor at the Washington Star.
On April 16, 1989, Widdison was appointed executive managing editor of The Telegram & Gazette and Sunday Telegram. In this capacity, Widdison served as the senior manager overseeing the merger of the Worcester Telegram and The Evening Gazette into an all-day newspaper.
A day later marked the inaugural launch of the morning edition of The Telegram & Gazette, which represented the merger of the two newspapers that, for more than 100 years, were delivered to subscribers and available at local stores in the early morning and midafternoon, respectively.
Under the direction of The Chronicle Publishing Co. of San Francisco, which purchased The Telegram & Gazette in 1986, Widdison helped plan the merger and redesign, which included three zone chiefs - to be stationed in Fitchburg in the north, Westborough in the east and Southbridge in the southwest – coordinating the regional reporting staff. At the time, there were 26 city staff reporters covering Worcester and the surrounding towns.
In his 30 years of newspapers, Widdison also served as president of the New England Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the New England Associated Press News Executives Association. He was a member of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association.
In 2019, the New England Newspaper & Press Association inducted Widdison into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.
After leaving the T&G in 1992, he became the director of public affairs for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, where he worked until retiring in 2001.
In 1993, he received a Commissioner’s Special Commendation from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Department of Mental Health.
Born in Greenfield, he was raised in Clinton, where he graduated from Clinton High School in 1957 and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1962, where he played varsity basketball. He was varsity basketball coach for five years at Hudson Catholic High School and was a member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials.
Widdison also served in the U.S. Army.
After graduating from college, he met the love of his life, Eleanor (Joyce) Widdison. On Aug. 1, 1964, the two married.
In addition to his wife, Widdison leaves four children, Deborah A. Baron of Leominster; John J. Widdison of Plymouth; Patricia A. Fallon of Auburn; and Paula E. Pepper of Ashland; and nine grandchildren.
Widdison was a horse aficionado. He enjoyed assisting with the horses at Rockingham and regularly took summer excursions to Saratoga with friends and family.
Widdison was a passionate Celtics and Red Sox fan and loved spending time with his wife and family at their summer home on Cape Cod before he and Ellie retired to Florida.
He was active in the Sterling Lassie League and volunteered at a local food pantry. He also served as a board member at The Catholic Free Press.
A devout Catholic, Widdison was a member of St. Richard’s parish in Sterling where he served as a Eucharistic minister. During his final days, Widdison found peace and solace in reciting the rosary with his wife at his side.
McNally & Watson Funeral Home, 304 Church St., Clinton, is directing arrangements.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Former T&G executive editor John Widdison dies; oversaw papers' merger
