John Clay

JOHN H. CLAY, age 77, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2025. Devoted husband of almost 54 years to Loretta Ann Clay (nee Ruggieri). Loving father to Roseann Becker (Scott), Marisa Perilli, and John Damian Perilli, III. Beloved grandfather to Justin King (Emily), Alyssia Bender (Cory), Alexis Perilli, and Nicole Perilli, and cherished great grandfather to Eleanor King and Josephine King. Dear brother to Diane Clay, Henry Clay (Stormy), Brian Clay (Theresa), and Karen Clay. John was predeceased by his parents, the late Henry and Marie Clay (nee McCauley).
John was a devout Catholic and served his faith with dedication. A master of language arts he was renowned for his excellence and native fluency in Russian. His immense talent for languages was his superpower. He had a deep fascination with every language from the Germanic, to romance languages, to Japanese and Chinese, the more distant and complex language, the more intrigued he was to study it even as recently as last year he was taking Italian classes always eager to learn more. John's intelligence was unmatched. He was our Google before Google and even after Google he remained the one who knew something about everything and most about everything yet he was never pompous always warm and kind and sharing his knowledge and helping others. I'm sure his many students could attest to that fact. He had a deep passion for fitness whether it was running biking or attending aerobics classes. He traveled all over Philadelphia to find his favorite instructors and make sure he got his dance on and worked up a good sweat to relieve stress. Music was always an essential part of his life, whether it was the sacred hymns of the mass or the rhythms of a Zumba class there was always music and there was always dancing. John and Loretta were affectionately known as Fred and Ginger at the Regency clubhouse where they lit up the dance floor, a true Renaissance man John embrace life with the curiosity, passion and kindness, leaving an unforgettable mark on all who knew him he will be deeply missed.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Friday, March 28, 2025, from 10:00AM until 11:15AM at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Road, Holland PA 18966, immediately followed by his funeral mass 11:30AM. Interment Resurrection Cemetery Bensalem, PA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in John's memory can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org or by using the donation tab below