John SORTORE

1926 - 2017

SORTORE, John
John Sortore died peacefully in his sleep at Christopher House on April 10, 2017. Born and raised in Friendship, New York, John served in the Army during World War II, during which time he met Bonnie Franklin, whom he married in 1946, followed by 71 wonderful years together.

In 1951, John and Bonnie moved to Lubbock where John began his professional career as a member of the Lubbock Police Department. He excelled as a police officer, highly respected by his fellow officers and the public. In 1962, desiring to move back to the Central Texas area, John accepted a job as Chief Investigator for the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. Retiring in 1985, John soon became restless, accepting employment with the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, where he worked for the next twelve years. While there, he developed the Impaired Physicians Program, assisting numerous doctors with alcohol or drug problems find their way back to a productive, useful career. Finally retiring for good, John and Bonnie made their home in Onion Creek for the past 12 years.

John had three great loves in his life, his family, his work, and being on the road. His friends and family kidded him that he should have been a "Trucker". He could have no better day than loading up his family and traveling around this beautiful country of ours.

John is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his daughter, Charlotte Fulton and her husband David; his grandson, Cliff Bergfeld and wife Debbie; great-granddaughters, Hannah and Heidi; brothers-in law, Bill Franklin and wife Sonya and Larry Franklin and wife, Charlotte. His son, J. Michael predeceased him on May 22, 2016.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral service or memorial.

Memorials and guestbook online at www.wcfish.com.