John F. Ladd, 83, of Northfield, Mass., died Saturday at the Fran-klin Medical Center, Greenfield, Mass., after a long illness.

Born in Pittsfield, Mass., Oct. 24, 1922, he was the son of Frank C. and Amy Morse Ladd.

He graduated from Turners Falls High School in Massachusetts and the Williston Academy. He then attended Yale University, but left to go to King's Point Academy and served in the Merchant Marine from 1943 to 1946.

From there, he went on to the University of Massachusetts, graduated in 1949 and then received a master's degree in education from Harvard University in 1957.

Mr. Ladd went on to teach in New Canaan, Conn., and Chatham, Mass. Prior to that he was a jack of all trades, including working as a bank teller and probation officer, working for an engineering construction firm and as a cutting analyst in the Texas oil fields. All of his adult life, he worked on freelance writing.

Active in Franklin County affairs in Massachusetts, he served on the Northfield Board of Health and was a volunteer for the Threshold program.

He is survived by his wife, Butler native Mary Anne McClung Ladd, to whom he was married for 52 years; three children, David of Stanardsville, Va.; Ellyn of Cavendish, Vt., and Eric and his wife, Martha, of Half Moon Bay, Calif; and four grandchildren, Alexandra and Gretchen Ladd of Virginia and Davis and Spencer Ladd of California.

Also surviving are three sisters, Eleanor Starbuck of Greenfield, Mass., Phoebe Denny of Northfield, Vt., and Mary Miller and her husband, Fred, of Chatham, Mass.; and many nieces and nephews.

<B>LADD </B>— A celebration of the life and sense of humor of John F. Ladd, who died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 21 at the First Parish Unitarian Church, Northfield, Mass.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross and its blood drives, 800-GiveLife.<B>Kidder Funeral Home</B>, Northfield, is in charge of arrangements.