JOHN TOWLE Obituary
Age 52, of Aspinwall, on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. Father of James Towle and Mary L. Towle; son of John G. and Jo-Anne (Smatlak) Towle; brother of Jodi McKinney and Jennifer Rubery. No visitation. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, December 30, 2016, at 12 noon in St. Scholastica Church, Aspinwall. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to Cooper-Siegel Community Library, 403 Fox Chapel Rd., Pgh. 15238. Arrangements by WEDDELL-AJAK FUNERAL HOME, Aspinwall.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Jo-Anne Towle
December 23, 2024
Johnny, you are in me & Dad´s prayers every single nigh. We think about you & talk about all the good times we had together. I feel your presence with me at times. I ask God to be with you! I know you´re with Grandma & Grandpa, you loved them so much. I smile when I remember you asking Grandpa to go to the club with him, so cute! You will never be forgotten my sweet boy! You were such a special sweet boy & such an intelligent, handsome man. I Love you, Mom
Marybeth Acevedo
November 23, 2018
John old man, slip ahead in the stacks there my friend and have something great for me to read when I join you.
Reenee
July 31, 2018
Miss you, my dear friend. The world isnt quite as bright, less one grass-fairy. Love you and and keep taking care of my girl for me.
January 19, 2017
Remembering the gift of John to our community. He was so knowedgeable, always managing to find the perfect book. We so admired his dignity, his incredible intelligence, his quiet respect and kindness.
May he rest in peace.
In deepest sympathy,,
Robert and Karen Guthrie
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A true friend, my bookseller
James Rams
January 16, 2017
Jo-Anne & John Towle
January 6, 2017
Rest in Peace our sweet Johnny! You were such a sweet boy and you were such a handsome, intelligent man. I always teased you and told you, you looked so much like me. So many people said you looked like my Dad, you Loved Grandpa so much. You loved to talk about all the fun things we did together and we would laugh. I'm so happy we got to hug you and kiss you when we were there the last time we visited. The last thing you said to me was Merry Christmas, I Love you Mom. You always let Dad and I know you Loved us. I hope God has his arms around you and is holding you tight. You will always be in our hearts. Love You Always, Mom & Dad
I hope you know all the wonderful things people have told us about you and know how much your were Loved by so many.
Joyce Simpson
January 2, 2017
Jodi
I was so sorry to hear about Johnny. I'll always cherish the memories of the fun times we had together when we all lived on Leslie road. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Love,
Joyce (Adams) Simpson
Rest peacefully, John.
Jessica Green
January 2, 2017
JOHN&CAROLE RODGERS
December 31, 2016
YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
REST IN PEACE
DAD AND MOM II
Kathleen George
December 31, 2016
I just learned of this loss. My late husband and I loved going to his bookstore. He was interesting and worth knowing. To his family and his many friends, i add my condolences
Gregor Meyer
December 30, 2016
I enjoyed my time in John's bookstore browsing the stacks and chatting with him about this and that...he introduced me to many great books and authors that have enriched my life...thank you John and rest in peace.
Jeanne
December 30, 2016
My sympathy to family, friends, and all those who miss John and the special and brilliant person he was. Truly a loss.
December 30, 2016
Dear Towle Family,
My deepest condolences. Please know that John was a terrific man and will be sadly missed by the many people that knew him.
Ever since I met John in 1984, it was clear that he had a way about him that showed he was beyond his years. Always with a book in hand and a deeper-than-you'd-expect conversation at the ready, John was a great guy to get to know. As a manager/owner of bookstores, John was always ready to recommend a great book or two or six. His passion and knowledge of books was generously shared and highly contagious. He would think about what you had read or what you needed to read. He cared. John came across as if he could read your DNA and deliver a unique, personalized solution. For people who believe what you read makes up a large part of who you are, John helped turn a lot of people into who they are today. The world is a better place for it. I know he helped me, and I am grateful.
May God hold the Towle family in the palm of his hand. I can easily picture the learned St. Paul walking around above worrying about how he is going to find the time to read all of these books he is now carrying. God Bless.
Warmest regards,
Chuck Kennedy
Jonathan gates
December 29, 2016
Coworker at Jays Book Stall. a savant. hugely intelligent. envied his sponge brain. rcvd word this afternoon from a store associate. walked out of my hotel room and stood in the driveway, stunned. my sympathies to his family.
Kristen
December 29, 2016
A longtime friend of 30 years and a classic gentleman, John was the first man to insist on opening my car door for me. Always arriving at my family home with a book for my mother, John had an easy nature and timeless manners. My heart is heavy. Rest easy John. You were special to me and so many others.
Marlene Mokracek
December 29, 2016
I am so sorry to hear about Johnny's passing. It was such a shock. My thoughts and prayers are with your family that God give you the comfort you need at this time. May he rest in peace.
Love,
Cousin Marlene
Tammy Adkins (Smatlak)
December 29, 2016
I'm so very sorry to Johnny's family. Sending many thoughts and prayers to comfort you during this most difficult time. Love to all.
Holly Snyder
December 29, 2016
Jodi - I am so very sorry for your loss. I can remember the three of us walking to school together like it was yesterday. Prayers for you and your family at this sad time.
Holly
Carolyn Stofko
December 29, 2016
Jo-Anne & John, So sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family at this time. God Bless you!!!
Sally Falkner
December 29, 2016
My sincerest condolences to John's family. I've known John casually for over 30 years--first met him when he was at Bookwork's where his customer service was always top-notch and then when he opened his own shop and became known as "Bookstore John". He always knew the perfect book to recommend and even though his shop was a maze of stacks of books, it was actually organized chaos! He knew exactly where everything was. That was part of the charm of shopping there.
He always wore a perfectly pressed shirt and khakis, and a "Palm Beach" tan. Opinionated, but soft-spoken with a keen sense of humor. We would often discuss old movies and I was happy to, recently, be able to recommended a Cary Grant movie that he had not seen.
I will miss seeing John around Aspinwall and our brief but always pleasant conversations whenever we bumped into each other; either ending with a good laugh or a shake of our heads on "what is the world coming to".
Again, my condolences on this tragic lose of a unique individual.
Sally Falkner
Debby Craigo
December 29, 2016
I'm so very sorry for your loss. John was such a nice man-a true gentleman. I pray that Jesus gives you His peace in the midst of this terrible loss. You are all in my prayers.
December 29, 2016
You made the Bookworks days a joy.... Love ya Toots
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