John Downs, a retired school teacher, died peacefully at his home in Bridgewater on Feb. 13. He was 71.

He was born and raised in Oak Bluffs, graduating from the Oak Bluffs High School with the class of 1956. After earning a bachelor of arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1960, he spent the next two-plus years as an officer in the U.S. Navy on the USS Aeolus, leaving service as a lieutenant.

In 1968, he began a teaching career in mathematics of over 40 years, retiring from Stoughton High School after more than 30 years in 2000 and then from Cardinal Spellman High School after an additional 10 years in November 2010.

He is survived by his wife of over 31 years, Jill (Howsen) Downs; two sons, Todd, of Austin, Tex., and Andrew of Bridgewater; a daughter, Caitlyn, of Bridgewater; brothers Charlie, and his wife Gaynell of South Hadley Falls, Mike and his wife Martha of Alexandria, Va., and Tim of Falmouth; a sister Mary Butler and her husband Eric of Mansfield, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Margaret Downs, formerly of Oak Bluffs, and his brother Jerry.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Bridgewater on Friday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m., with interment immediately following at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Old Colony Hospice at 1 Credit Union Way in Randolph, MA 02368.