John “Jack” Dowd (1943-2022)

John “Jack” Dowd, born on Connection Street in Newport, Rhode Island, led an extraordinary life. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban missile blockade aboard a wooden minesweeper, Jack graduated from Providence College and began a notable career with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) in Boston in 1969. As a street supervisory agent, he managed significant bomb and arson investigations, playing a key role in solving the largest arson case in U.S. history, detailed in Wayne Miller's book, Burn Boston Burn. In 1989, he led the Entry Control Team, a model for high-risk law enforcement operations. Jack's contributions are celebrated in literature in author George V. Higgins’ book and in the film by the same title The Friends of Eddie Coyle directed by Peter Yates. Additionally, Jack found solace in woodcarving, learning from Master Paul McCarthy (1942-2023) and having been introduced to the craft by his cousin Norman Champagne and father, John Dowd Sr. Woodcarving served as a therapeutic outlet amid the pressures of his high-stakes career. Jack and Paul were the best of friends.