John Michael Curran

CURRAN, JOHN MICHAEL (Jack) was born July 22, 1931, to Lorraine and Charles Curran of Whitestone, NY.  He passed away on September 3, 2023.

Jack grew up in Whitestone, attending St. Luke’s parochial school and then attended high school in Manhattan at St. Francis Xavier HS and graduated from Power Memorial Academy. He continued and completed his education in mid-life through the NYSU system and UConn Charter Oak Program.

Jack joined the US Navy in 1951 and served until 1955 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa (CV-40). He was a radarman and worked in the Combat Information Center during three Mediterranean cruises and a tour of duty operating out of Japan and other far eastern ports.  In 1954 the Tarawa was sent to Australia and his fond memories include the wonderful reception by the Australian people. After the Korean war, he went back to work with his father and was a proud member of the International Typographical Union – Local 6 (the Big Six) in NYC. Jack subsequently lived in Brentwood, NY where he and his wife Betty raised their family. In the 80's he moved to Stamford, CT and married Carol Gardella. They owned and operated a travel agency there and he finished his working career teaching English as a Second Language at Greenwich HS.  Often, he reflected on the great honor he had teaching the brave men and women who came to America and needed to learn English.  He moved to Florida in 1996 and lived first in Palm Coast and then in Flagler Beach and moved to Port Orange where he currently resided.  

After his beloved wife Carol passed, he married Mary Ann Hartzell, and they remain devoted companions.  Jack leaves his four children, John (Mary) Curran of Rochester, NY, Jeanne Mammes, Holly Springs, NC, Kathleen (Jack) Simpson, Long Valley, NJ and Dan (Kelly) Curran of Virginia Beach, VA.  They and their children and their children were very special to Jack, and he was very proud of them all.  He also leaves many lifelong friends and neighbors at Countryside Lakes Independent Living Center where he last resided.  

Always an active and participating Catholic parishioner, he will be memorialized at a Mass at Mother Seton Catholic Church in Palm Coast on November 11, 2023 at 11:00 am. Visitation will precede the mass in the church memorial room from 10:00am - 11:00 am. Interment with military honors will immediately follow the mass at the church columbarium.

Donations in his memory are suggested to LITERACY VOLUNTEERS, 40 Arch St., Greenwich, CT, 06830. Attention: Tyler Shanafelt.22

The family of Mr. Curran have entrusted his arrangements to Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations.