John F. GEARHART Sr.

1928 - 2013

GEARHART, John F., Sr.


John Frederick Gearhart, Sr., of New Hartford, CT and Cypress, CA, died peacefully Tuesday, (July 9, 2013), of pancreatic cancer. He was born Aug. 3, 1928 in Pittsburg, PA son of the late Dr. John Forest and Doris V. Sargent Gearhart. He graduated Mansfield State College, PA, where he studied English. He served in the U.S. Marines, as 2nd Lieutenant, earning a Purple Heart in the Korean War. After attending graduate school in Phoenix, AZ, he married Bonnie LaZarr, moved to Lima, Peru and worked for City Bank. He returned with his family to the US in 1956. John was a leader and innovator wherever he worked - from being a plant manager at Underwood Olivetti to being an independent manufacturer's representative where he developed new packaging materials for the recording industry. This work brought him to California, where he joined like-minded men, Frank and Ken, who became closest friends at AWS in Los Alamitos. He enjoyed his work, never really retiring. John loved to learn, and loved people. His Spanish was fluent, and he spoke it often. He was generous and famous for his stories, and was always on the go. He volunteered at Bethlehem Lutheran in Los Alamitos and at the VA Hospital in Long Beach and was Past Master of Garden Grove Lodge (351). He had a life-long love of music, the outdoors, dancing, old airplanes, travel, and golf, and was dedicated to keeping in touch with friends and family. John was predeceased by his brother James Gearhart; his adopted sister, Judith Turzanski; his brother-in-law Edward Oliver; his niece, Virginia Sue Oliver DuFour and nephew Michael Oliver; and by his ex-wife Bonnie L. Gearhart. He is survived by his sister, Inez Joann Oliver of Waterford, WI; his children, Jill G. and Kevin Keane of New Hartford, CT, and Cheryl and John F. Gearhart, Jr. of Willington, CT; his grandchildren Julia K. and David Seidman , Allison and Brendan Keane Barr, Joseph and Tara Gearhart, and Sara and Beau Frechette; nephews, nieces and their families; his cousin Wilbur Gearhart of St. Louis, MO; sister-in-law Betty Barber; separated wife Izabella Gearhart of CA, and special step-daughter Krystyna Bolado and family. He also leaves behind many friends, including his devoted companion and loving friend of 13 years, Sally Vetovitz of Palm Desert, CA. The family would like to thank the CA and CT teams at Seasons Hospice. From the active months of spring until the last summer hours, John enjoyed every person and visit. Special thanks to Marv, and to Al, his CA friends who loved and looked out for him with Sally.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2013, 3 p.m. at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, CT. The family will receive friends and family from 2-3 p.m. before the service. Burial will be at a later date, in PA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to Seasons Hospice Foundation, or to an organization of your choice. To share a memory of John or offer condolences, please visit mulryanfh.com.