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BORN
1933
DIED
2021
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John Centra Obituary
John A. Centra, 88, of Pottsville, formerly of Pennington, N.J., and Manlius, N.Y., passed away Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Geisinger St. Luke's Hospital, Orwigsburg.
Born Feb. 23, 1933, in Herkimer, N.Y., he was a son of the late Americo and Angela (Macri) Centra.
After graduating from Herkimer High School, Class of 1950, John went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY at Albany, a master's degree from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in psychology from Michigan State University.
He served in the Coast Guard from 1954 until 1956.
John spent much of his career at the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, N.J., and then as a professor and chair of the higher education program at Syracuse University. He was a leading expert in the field of higher education and was well recognized for his research and publications in the area of faculty evaluation.
John was known for his sense of humor, his basketball skills, his love of sports (especially the Syracuse Orange) and his enthusiasm for discussing politics. But his greatest treasure was spending time with his beloved family.
John is survived by his wife, Dr. Nancy (Halloran) Centra, who was his favorite travel partner while they explored many parts of the globe during their 58 years of marriage; three daughters, Catherine "Cathy" Coyle and her husband, Timothy, Pottsville, Elizabeth "Liza" Corso and her husband, Jonathan, Decatur, Ga., and Joan Centra, Tucker, Ga.; four grandchildren, Ryan, Patrick and Catie Coyle and Sam Corso; three sisters, Anne Ormond, Levittown, N.Y., Nancy Miller, Herkimer, N.Y., and Marlene Centra Smith, Herkimer, N.Y.; and many nieces, nephews, and granddogs.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville, with the Monsignor Edward Coyle officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Interment with military honors will be held in St. John the Baptist No. 2 Cemetery, Pottsville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pentagon Memorial Fund. Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home, Port Carbon, is in charge of arrangements. Please send condolences to www.robertaevansjrfh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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