John Kennedy Ohl

Ohl, John Kennedy
age 69, died Wednesday, May 18, 2011, in Mesa, Arizona. Born February 28, 1942, in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, to a steelworker and a nurse, John went on to receive several degrees of higher learning including a Bachelor of Science in Education from Slippery Rock State College, a Magistri Artium from Duquesne University, a Master of Science of Library Science from the University of Kentucky and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati. His parents Henry and Martha, and his brother George precede John in his passing. John is survived by Maria (nee Cardamone) his dear wife of 45 years, his sister Kathryn (Anthony Pusateri), his children Alison (Louis Bevilacqua), Justin (Trang Van) and Jocelyn, and his grandchildren Anna Bevilacqua, Maria Bevilacqua, and Stephanie Van. John was known to his friends and family as a man of expansive knowledge and academic excellence. He was a pillar of the History Department at Mesa Community College, teaching thousands of students over more than 30 years until his recent retirement. Through his career, John authored countless articles, essays, book reviews, and three historical biographies. John was a man of integrity, whose primary goal in life was to ensure his family's happiness, education, and well-being. He was a faithful member of the United Methodist church and regularly supported various charitable organizations. He loved trains, sea otters, sports, Christmastime, research, slapstick comedy, Euchre, lighthouses, reading and music. A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm, Saturday, May 21 at Grace United Methodist Church, 2024 University Drive, Mesa. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org, File 30947, PO Box 60000, San Francisco, CA 94160 or the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program, www.monterybayaquarium.org 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940.