John L. Politis

EAST PETERSBURG – John L. Politis, 75, of East Petersburg, formerly of Elysburg, passed away Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at Neffsville Nursing and Rehabilitation, in Lancaster.

He was born in Ashland, Nov. 1, 1949, a son of the late John W. and Rose T. (Silvano) Politis.

He attended the former St. Paul's Church, in Atlas, where he served as an altar boy.

He was a Boy Scout and attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

John graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes High School in 1967. He attended Penn State University graduating with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

John was married to the former Mary C. Gabos, from 1973 until her passing in 1999. John married Kathy (Morgan) Strauss, in May 2004, on the campus of Virginia Tech.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1972, where he served for four years. He attended the U.S. Army Field Artillery and Officer Candidate School where he became a commissioned officer. During his military career, he received many certifications of recognition, including a Marksman Badge, Sharpshooter Badge and the Army Commendation Medal for acts of heroism or meritorious service.

John continued his education while in the Army, receiving two master's degrees in electrical engineering and systems management. He served as aide-de-camp to the deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army electronics command, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He was honorably discharged in 1976 as a first lieutenant.

John went on to a successful career in various national security agencies, including the NSA and Naval Research Laboratory. He also co-founded a hi-tech startup company working on crypto technology for the military. He held a top-secret security clearance.

In 1998 he left the security technology world for academia, holding a director position at Bucknell University, Virginia Tech University and Luzerne County Community College, Shamokin branch, before his retirement. While at Virginia Tech, he was a member of the outreach to establish a business center at Kathmandu University, in Nepal.

John was a member of the Catholic faith and the American Legion, in Atlas.

He enjoyed spending time in the woods, cutting down trees and creating unique projects from wood for his family.

John is survived by his wife, Kathy Politis, of Petersburg; two daughters, Sharon Miller and her husband, James, and Lisa Young and her husband, Jarrod, all of Dayton, Ohio; and a son, John D. Politis, of Jenkintown; two stepdaughters, Jennifer Balladares and her husband, Jaime, of Coral Springs, Florida, and Dawn Butt and her husband, Rick, of East Petersburg; 13 grandchildren; three sisters, Barbara Waddell of West Virginia, Chris Stametz, of Overlook, and Ann Marie Pipa, of Harrisburg; and niece, nephews and cousins.

POLITIS - John L. Politis, 75, of East Petersburg, and formerly of Elysburg. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, with Father Andrew Stahmer as celebrant at Church of the Holy Angels, 855 Scott St., Kulpmont. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg. Viewing will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass Friday, Feb. 28. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011. Arrangements are in the care of C.J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., 27 N. Vine St., Mount Carmel, C.J. Lucas IV, supervisor. To send condolences to the family, go to www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com.