John Harding MD, longtime Shrewsbury pro-life advocate has died

Shrewsbury resident, pediatrician, and pro-life advocate Dr. John W. Harding has passed away after a battle with cancer on Sunday, July 11, 2021, in the comfort of his home, with his loving family by his side. He was 84 years old.

Born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, in 1937, John graduated from Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Massachusetts. In 1959 he achieved his Bachelor’s degree from Providence College. John attended medical school at University College Cork, in County Cork, Ireland, graduating in 1964. He was also a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1972.

In 1964, John began his medical career at Carney Hospital in the neighborhood of Dorchester in Boston. In 1966 became Chief Resident at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester until 1968. Dr. Harding went into private practice in 1968 and founded his own private practice, Harding Pediatric in Worcester, from which he retired in 2008. He was also Chief of Pediatrics at Hahnemann Hospital in Worcester. John was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and was the personal physician to Audrey Santo, who is now being petitioned for sainthood.

John was also the producer and host of Raising Children with God, a cable television program on Shrewsbury public television. He was the founder and chairman of the Respect Life Committee at Saint Mary’s Church in Shrewsbury; a longtime board member of Visitation House and Problem Pregnancy, in Worcester; and president of the Central Massachusetts Chapter of Massachusetts Citizens for Life.

John leaves his beloved wife of 57 years, Grace M. (O’Flaherty) Harding; his children, J. Gregory Harding and his wife Roxanne, of Millbury, Ian A. Harding and his wife Tracy, of Boylston, Marcella B. Rezendes and her husband Tom, of South Yarmouth, and Torbin P. Harding and his wife Sheri, of Shrewsbury; his grandchildren, Mary Joan, Thomas, and John Paul Rezendes, Julia G. and Emily J. Harding, Samuel John and Elizabeth C. Harding, Lucy and Joseph Harding; his brother, Joe Harding; and several nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents, the late Warren G. Harding and Loretta (Papillon) Harding, Uncle Joseph E. LeFebvre, and his brother, the late Warren G. Harding, Jr.

The Perfetti Family, founders of the Comunicas Foundation, Shrewsbury Post, send our faithful condolences to the Harding family.