Dr. Irod John Lindsay, 87, of Quincy, Massachusetts, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Irod was born in 1937, in St. John, Montserrat, British West Indies, to his beloved parents, Margaret Ann (Allen) and William Lindsay. As a boy he was called “Jack.”

As a young man on the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, he relentlessly pursued his studies, picking up the trade of carpentry and later working in pharmacology. He immigrated to Boston in 1958. For a time he worked as a security guard, a hospital orderly and later served as a researcher in an eye and ear hospital. It was there that his trademark focus and skill were observed by a thoughtful doctor who believed in his talents and agreed to sponsor his education at Harvard University Extension School. Through this mentorship, Irod found his path into the profession that would energize, inspire and feed his soul for 5 decades- the art and science of dentistry. The work tapped his intellect, charm, and love of people. Over the years he built a beautiful community of patients and friends in Dorchester and the broader area. He forged lifelong relationships through his dental practice. He also inspired others to pursue dentistry or any career choice that authentically brought joy and created stability. He loved his work, his patients, and was grateful to serve them each and every day.

Outside of work, very often on Wednesdays and Saturdays he played tennis. He picked up the sport in his late twenties and brought the same enthusiasm and commitment to tennis as he brought to dentistry. He cultivated a big world of tennis friends and spent many weekends watching tennis matches with his loving wife of 59 years, Marie. The two spent Sunday mornings watching Meet the Press, their afternoons watching football and their evenings watching 60 Minutes. He met Marie (Perry) in 1965 and they married the next year. They welcomed their son, William “Billy” Lindsay into the family in 1972, and their daughter, Keri, came in 1978. They also had a babygirl, Leanne Marie, who died within days of birth. Their son, Billy, passed away in 2006.

Ah, but the grandchildren!… They brought giggles and many twinkles to his eye. He treasured long walks by the Centerville River with his little kids and loved taking them to pick out live lobsters in the fish market. Many summers were spent strolling by the beach and later sitting on the deck eating ice cream and whole belly fried clams. He also loved chatting on the beach bench at the foot of the ocean. There he would tell them tales about his big beautiful life. He would lean in, just inches from their little faces, and listen to their stories just as intently. In the evenings, when his legs were too weak to climb the steps of the house to the grandkids’ bedroom, he would crawl up the staircase on his hands and knees to spend more time, tell a story, and then carefully crawl back down, grateful to catch them before they fell asleep. He made sure they knew how much he believed in them and how much he loved and always missed them.

Importantly, he was a devoted husband to his wife, Marie, of 59 years with whom he traveled the world, enjoyed many adventures and delighted in fantastic cuisine from across the globe. He was a dedicated and committed father, whom his children called “Daddy” and whom his grandchildren affectionately called “Puppy.” He was a loving brother to his sister, Mavis “Maggie,” and his three brothers, Edward “Leslie,” Leonard, Herman and his brother-in-law Tony. He was a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society for 50 years, as well as a member of the American Dental Association, the National Dental Society, the Commonwealth Dental Association, and he was in the Massachusetts National Guard. He was a well-known and beloved neighbor and friend in the seaside community of Long Beach Road in Centerville, Massachusetts. In his later years he was often spotted sitting on a neighbor’s rock with his cane in hand, needing a short break after a long walk. He would sit, take in the sights and sounds of the river before him and the ocean to his back, and wave down friends for a quick chat. He felt immensely lucky and grateful for his life every single day, even on the hardest of days. As an older man he believed that his life was complete and he shared that he was happy for it. In the years before his passing, he was kind and generous enough to ensure that his little girl understood this to ease her grief at his passing. He told her many times, and she remembers. She is grateful for it.

He is survived by his wife, Marie, his daughter, Keri, and his grandchildren Adriana, Buddy and Piper. He is also survived by his sister, Mavis Bennet (Tony,) his brothers Herman Lindsay and Leonard Lindsay, his nieces Renee (Derrick), Tammy, Tanya (Anthony) and Melissa, his nephew, Robert (Kim,) his great nieces Jordan and Brooklyn, and his uncle George.

A Funeral Service to honor his life will be held at Faith Christian Church, 301 Harvard Street, Dorchester, Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Family and friends invited. A Visiting Hour will be held at the church from 10-11 AM. Interment Cedar Grove Cemetery.