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John entered the army in the 1950s, becoming an electronics/communications specialist (as this was the closest he could get to math and astronomy) and helped to establish the US Army Communications School at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. After a brief stay at Fort Ord he ended up with the 2nd Infantry Division serving in the Korean War with the rank of Technical Sgt from 1951-1952. During this time he married Ms. Kimiko Higa and after an honorable discharge from the service moved to New York City attending school at CCNY and RCA Institute before working for medical electronics firms, Cavitron Ultrasonics (later Dentsply) and Cooper Medical. A well-respected production manager, he mentored many young company workers and was often given the opportunity to head consultation work to large tech companies like Sperry Rand. John and Kimiko raised their two children, Lori and Glen, in New York where education was key to their staying in the city, even when he was offered jobs at the Pentagon, or IBM. He was devoted to his family and friends, spending many creative hours to design props for his daughter's Japanese dance performances, helping to build houses for family and friends. It was his nature to help.
He met his second wife Rosie Secundina Quiles, while working for Cavitron. They were married in August of 1986 and spent 33 happy years together, living in Brooklyn NYC, where they were inseparable. He retired living a quiet and unassuming life, watched over by his stepchildren Andy, Andy's wife Arlene and Andy's brother, Nelson. For the last three years, Rosie and John lived with her son and daughter-in-law as frailties of age would not let them live independently.
He witnessed much of the world events, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Korean War with the US Army, Vietnam on the civilian sidelines, the Man on the Moon and the Twin Towers for which he cried.
John is loved by all his family and friends, and will be greatly missed. He was devoted to his family and friends, generous, and helpful. After watching the decline of his beloved wife, he was looking forward to seeing his Rosie who passed months before. We are relieved that his pain, both mental and physical are now past.
John will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery, 361 Sharrott Ave, Staten Island NY, 10309. A Celebration of Life service may be scheduled at a future date (due to the recent pandemic). In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to Alzheimer's research or disabled veterans organizations.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
