John Albert Reichenbach

John Albert Reichenbach, age 74, of Winter Haven, FL, died April 18, 2022, at his home with his wife Tina by his side.

John was born in Philadelphia, PA, the son of late Robert and Mildred Reichenbach. He grew up in the Folsom, PA area and attended Ridley High School from which he graduated in 1964.

Shortly after graduation he joined the United States Air Force and became an Air Traffic Controller. His USAF service had him attend training in San Antonio, TX for basic training and Biloxi, MS where he learned his trade. He was also stationed at Clark AB in the Philippines and had numerous temporary deployment assignments to Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1968.

John married in first wife, Lee, a high school sweetheart upon his return from duty. They started their life together in New York where he worked as an FAA controller. After a few short years living on Long Island his controller duties required a move to the Philadelphia area where they spent the remainder of their years together. John and Lee were divorced in the early 2000's.

John enjoyed so many things in life:
In high school he was a superlative soccer player and later was an avid golfer. He was an amazing storyteller and always had a joke ready for any occasion. He was always thinking ahead to the next smile he could get out you. And he loved a good silly movie as much as an old western. He was a big fan of both Bogart and Bond. What he relished most was being able to relive those magical movie moments with anyone who would let him, especially his children! He was never really far from a good bowl of ice cream or popcorn, sometimes both. And all of this just made him a lot of fun to be around as he celebrated all of this with everyone that he could!

And how he loved Christmas! For anyone that knew him (and for thousands that just met him), he was their own personal Santa. He spent half the year growing out a spectacular beard that was the tip of a colossal Santa persona iceberg that he lived from October through January. Resplendent in the full gear - black boots, big red coat and hat he would visit children in the hospital or library and would have a gift for everyone. Also seen every year riding atop the massive sleigh as the star of the Christmas parade waving with abandon and a big cheeky smile. But the subtle, classic "every day" Santa with the dark green pants, Christmas-themed vest and bells on his shoes was his favorite for being a Santa about town. Children young and old would crowd him to say "Hi" and get their chance to let him know what special item they really wanted under their tree that year.

But 365, it was his career that was defining for him. Air traffic control was his bread and butter. He really excelled at it and worked his way through the ranks for more than 30 years. He was a shift supervisor, and trainer and eventually a department manager. He worked through troubling times and endured many stressful situations, but it gave him amazing opportunities. He met incredible people and worked alongside some of the best in the business. It gave him an endless supply of stories! He loved to share with people what he did because it was so different than all the other jobs out there. He just really loved being an air traffic controller.

Of course, more than all, he loved his current wife, Tina. After an early retirement from the FAA John found himself doing new things and meeting new people. It was during one of these social events that he met Tina. They spent most of their years together in Williamsport, PA with her son Nathaniel, then later in Winter Haven where they enjoyed their retirement together living on the edge of the neighborhood golf course. They loved to dance and sing and swap stories. They enjoyed spending time in their yard doing a bit of gardening. Sometimes a fun day was had by simply riding the golf cart around and chatting up the neighbors.

John is survived by many loved ones including his wife Tina, in Winter Haven and her son Nathaniel of Texas; his sons John of Collegeville, PA; and Louis and his wife Aimee of Northville, MI; one daughter, Michelle Sturner and her husband Don of Lakeland, FL; his brother Robert and his wife Kathy of Texas; his sister Joy Curtis and husband John in Oklahoma; and one grandson, Louis' son James in Colorado.