Fall River man, former Diman teacher who had track named after him, passes away

A Diman legend who has been immortalized at the school has passed away.

John Cantwell died Wednesday at the age of 87.

According to an obituary, Cantwell, a 1954 Durfee High School graduate, served honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He later earned a degree from Fitchburg State College. John dedicated his career to education, teaching at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School from its opening in 1968 until retiring in 1998. He was a drafting instructor. A respected coach of Diman’s Track and Field and Cross-Country teams, he was inducted into the Diman Hall of Fame. In 2011, the Diman track and field complex was named in his honor, commemorating his legacy.

Cantwell could be seen running on Eastern Avenue and ran road races until he was 80. He was also a longtime member of the Fall River Country Club.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 from 8 – 9:30am at the Hathaway Home for Funerals, 1813 Robeson St., Fall River.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10am in Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover St., Fall River before a procession to St. Patrick Cemetery, Fall River.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.