Henry Edward Molvar Jr.

My brother Henry Edward Molvar Jr. passed away from complications due to an untreatable blood clot in his lung. He was 83. He was known for his high intellect and enjoying life’s pleasures and forging his own path. He outlived three wives – Ellen, Linda, and Judy. He was the oldest of eight children and grew up in Melrose, MA and attended St. Mary’s grade school.

He immediately excelled in school and earned a scholarship to BC High. At BC high, he was on the track team, and unlike his brothers who were distance runners, as always, he would be different and competed in the 600, low hurdles and long jump, and he would often score the most points for the team in dual meets. He graduated from BC High in 1961 and scored in the highest possible percentile in the country on his SATs and earned a scholarship to Boston College where he majored in Chemistry. A bad ankle sprain going over a hurdle abruptly ended his college track career before it even started.

Since Henry was 20 years older than me, he was out of the house and at BC before I was even born. Always a charmer, he met his wife Ellen during a ‘record hop’ at BC High. They had two children – Henry Edward Molvar III and the late Andrew Molvar.

After he left BC, he had an outstanding and long career as a chemist, and he bought a house in Billerica, MA and later in Chelmsford, MA. Later he married Linda, a highly successful Williamsburg realtor. He could entertain himself and got pleasure from reading, gardening, fine food and cocktails during cruises, and during the summer lounging in his pool. He had wonderful annual Christmas Eve and July 4th pool parties for the Molvar extended family for many years. Henry also helped his brother Phil get his first “real job” at his company, and Phil was his closest brother throughout his life.

After his company moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, he and Linda followed. Unfortunately Linda passed away in 2011 from cancer. Henry would meet his third wife Judy and they lived in retirement bliss for many years with their pets until her passing in 2025. In his later years he enjoyed listening to late ‘50s and early ‘60 rock/pop music with the Beach Boys being his favorite, and watching MSNBC news.

When I coached track at UMass-Lowell I would visit Henry during our annual trek to the Colonial Relays at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. I also got to visit him on my way down to Naples FL, and Phil and I talked to him on the phone just days before he died.

Henry would pass within one year of both his wife Judy and his brother Bob “maddog” Molvar.

Henry is survived by his son Henry III, and his siblings Paul of Wilmington, MA, Barbara of Syracuse, NY, Phil of St. Mary’s, GA/Southport Island, ME, Joan of St. Simons Island, GA, and John of Newburyport, MA/Naples, FL.

God please bless his soul, and I ask you all, when you get a chance later on, to say a brief prayer for him. Thank you!

A Catholic Mass will be held in his memory at Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport, MA on May 22nd. His cremated remains will rest at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery on Storey Ave Newburyport.