John Lostin TERRELL

TERRELL, John Lostin, 75 of Crystal River and Indian Shores, formerly of Tampa, passed away on April 27, 2013. A graduate of Plant High School, where he played baseball, he was active in many clubs and honor societies. He had an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy, where he planned to play baseball, but quickly found out he was prone to seasickness on large boats. After being offered a scholarship in baseball at UF, he was told he would have to sit out a year due to NCAA regulations, so he decided to concentrate on academics. He graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Finance where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He also graduated from the University of South Florida with a Masters of Business Administration and from Golden Gate University with a Masters of Public Administration. After many years at TECO, rising to Manager of Data Processing, he went on to work as a General Manager of student loan portfolios at CSX Commercial Services Inc., a division of SCL Railroad in Jacksonville. After this time, he became Chief Operating Officer of Harper Smith and Associates and managed $150 million in student loans for the banks of Florida. Raytheon acquired the contract, and he continued to work for Raytheon Systems in Washington D.C. as the Manager of Subject Matter Experts of Student Loans and as a liasion to the Department of Education. He finished his career as a consultant for The Department of Education in Washington. After 9/11, he and his wife, Louise decided to retire back to Florida to enjoy their children and grandchildren. A native of Tampa, he loved the bays and waterways, fishing, boating and RVing. He also loved to play tennis and golf. When he no longer could play tennis, he became an umpire with the WTA. He was also past president of the Merchant's Association, Jaycees and Methodist Men. During the early lean years, his second jobs included owner of Sunset Construction, owner of Sunset Park Package Liquor Store, Business and Accounting instructor at Hillsborough Community College and Information Science instructor for the Masters Program at Golden Gate University's program at MacDill AFB. He passed peacefully at his favorite place, his house on Crystal River, his family by his side. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Louise, and two daughters, Katharine T. Cuervo and Allison Terrell Mitchell (Glenn) and three grandchildren, his namesake John Chandler (Chad) Mitchell, Jennifer Mitchell and Robert MacDermid Jr. He was a very active spectator at his grandchildren's activities, including Chad's baseball games, Jennifer's horse shows, and Robbie's basketball games. He was dearly loved and will be so missed. With a wicked, dry sense of humor, he loved his Gators and Rays. John could directly trace his lineage of the Terrell family to arriving in America from England in 1632 and settling in Connecticut before coming to Florida in 1884. A celebration of life will take place on Sunday, May 19th from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at 12465 Citation Road, 34610, and memorial donations can be made in Johnny's name to citrus County Hospice, P.O. Box 641270, Beverly Hills, Florida 34464. Visit the family's guestbook at TBO.com.