John N. Clay

John N. Clay,71, of Danvers, passed away on June 19, 2024, in Beverly Hospital. He was the husband of Cheryl A. (O’Donnell) Clay with whom he shared 49 years of marriage. Born in Salem on March 14, 1953, he was the son of the late Earl and Elisabeth (Nichols) Clay. John was a lifelong resident of Danvers. He was a graduate of Danvers High School Class of 1971. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and his master’s degree from Northeastern University. Following graduation from UNH, John was a Project Manager in the hazardous waste cleanup industry, directing operations at many Superfund sites in New England. In the early days of the Internet, he foresaw the explosive growth of Internet-based applications, creating a first-of-a-kind application for environmental professionals that saw widespread national use. Internet applications became his professional passion and led to founding his own consulting practice to bring web-based solutions to a variety of clients. He retired following a long career as an information technology project manager. John had a lifelong love of the ocean and he and Cheryl enjoyed their many trips for extended stays on the island of Kauai, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Tulum, and Canada. Cheryl cherishes the memories of these trips. John was encouraged to learn SCUBA diving at a young age. He shared his passion with his family and taught his children to dive alongside him and his father, creating a multi-generational dive team. As grandchildren came along, they would accompany John on his boat as observers, always excited to see what “Papa” would bring up from the depths. John was skilled in many different crafts: auto mechanics, boating, electronics, welding, home repair and renovation, gardening, and personal computing. And he delighted in assisting family and friends in solving problems or lending a strong back to complete a physical project. In addition to his wife, Cheryl, he is survived by three children: Melissa Rodolosi and her husband, John of Gloucester; Krista Murray and her husband, Scott of Danvers; and, John Clay and his wife Heather of Danvers; his brother Paul Clay and his wife Jennifer of Knoxville, TN; seven grandchildren: Katelyn and Elizabeth Rodolosi, Rowan and Cora Murray and Tessa, Andrew “A.J.” and Brynn and several nieces and nephews. John’s funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in John’s name to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA, 01923 or online at www.caredimensions.org or the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or online at www.heart.org.