John Charles Vatterott

Vatterott, John Charles

This was no ordinary life. This was a life well lived and well loved. A life that will be deeply missed.

October 24, 1943 - October 19, 2023

John was approaching his 80th birthday when he left the hospital the previous week and wanted to be at home in University City surrounded by his wife Joan, their children, and grandchildren. The family began naming it the "Festival of John Vatterott" which lasted 9 days in total. It was the perfect send-off for a remarkable man who was the 9th child in a family of 17 children. He continued to bless everyone at the "Festival" with his wonderful smile, deep blue eyes, unflagging sense of humor, and words that he continued to live. "All is well." "Life is good."

John was the beloved son of the beautiful Mary Patricia Vatterott, the young and handsome Gregory Vatterott (who died too early), and the courageous Charles Vatterott, Gregory's brother who became John's loving adopted father.

John was many things to many people; a devoted parishioner of Christ the King, a dutiful son, loyal brother, fun loving cousin, favorite uncle, true friend, loving father, generous grandfather, great grandfather and faithful husband to Joan Bayot Vatterott. Together they had an extraordinary lifetime of fun and adventure. He enjoyed a full and wonderful life with Joan; she was crazy about him from the day they met in high school and continued her love for him all the days of his life.

He was number nine in a loving and raucous 'His-Hers-and-Theirs' family of seventeen children: the late Mary Jane Harris married to the late Michael Harris III, the late Patsy Erker married to the late William Erker, the late Margaret Danna married to the late Frank Danna, the late Martha Flavan married to the late David Flavan III, Kathleen Valenta married to the late Richard Valenta, the late Charles Vatterott III, the late Mary Ann Holden married to the late Gerald Holden, the late Gregory Vatterott married to Susan Vatterott, Catherine Vatterott married to the late Greg Langdon, Susan Bresnan, Chris Vatterott married to Nancy Vatterott, Genevieve Coughlin married James Coughlin, Winnie Greathouse married to Mike Greathouse, Claire Hundelt married to Bruce Hundelt, Robert Vatterott married to Martha Vatterott, and Betty Vatterott.

John was the amiable brother-in-law of Joan's sisters, Louise Prindable married to John Prindable and Victoria Sharp married to John "Jack" Sharp.

He was the loving father of John Jr. married to Emily, Katy, Mia married to Michael Fitzgerald, Timothy married to Miranda, Genevieve married to Rich Haas, and Patrick married to Anna.

He has many grandchildren - Andrew married to Molly, Madeline married to Ramsey, Patrickson Jean married to Anahi, Brendan, Brian, Will, Kevin, Emma, Charlie, Estela, Benicio, Connor, Lidia, Gus, Dylan, and Adeline.

The great-grandchildren count is ongoing with Ramsey, Scarlet, Archie, and McKenna Joan Vatterott, joyfully welcomed on the tenth day of the "Festival of John Vatterott."

John and Joan had the privilege of hosting a Vietnamese family in 1980. Loc and the late Tam Nguyen and their family lived in New Haven at what was then the Vatterott family farm. A special bond remains between the two families to this day. Later John and Joan transformed the farm into Cedar Creek - a destination wedding venue and getaway for corporate, non-profit, and spiritual retreats.

John was full of creative ideas and had a golden touch for business. He was greeted with great success with Vatterott College, a vocational and trade school geared toward job training and employment, which he sold in 2003 to focus his time on family and to become a philanthropist. This began what he called the greatest chapter in his life. John always had a heart for those at the margins. He and Joan supported many charitable causes and was a champion of the underserved including Access Academies, a program to "propel at-risk middle school students through high school and onto college", and Boys Hope Girls Hope, a non-profit that nurtures and guides young people in need to become "well-educated and career-ready men and women for others."

John battled cancer over the last 15 years and during this time he always spoke of how he was in no pain and had no fear, anxiety or regrets. He put his trust in God and was always finding ways to bring that message of love to the world. He marveled at this gift and shared his grace with everyone he encountered. He was humble and kind and always looked for the good in everyone. He is deeply missed as he was deeply loved. We celebrate his life and the gift he gave everyone around him in "finding God in all things".

If you wish to remember John you may make a donation to Access Academies or Boys Hope Girls Hope. Or simply say a prayer in gratitude. One of John's last words of prayer to the family was, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you."

Amen.

John had a generous heart and never stopped giving. Part of his legacy was donating his body to Saint Louis University Medical School.

Services: A Memorial Mass will celebrated on a date to be planned when children, grandchildren, and friends will gather to honor him.

A SERVICE OF

THE LUPTON CHAPEL