John G. Traina

TRAINA, John G., 95, of Blairsville, Ga., formerly of Tampa, Fla., passed away on Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 in the Union General Hospital following an extended illness. Mr. Traina was born on March 1, 1908 in Tampa, the son of the late, Anthony Traina and the late, Rosalie Greco Traina. He was a Veteran of the US Air Force of World War II and of the Catholic faith. Surviving are his loving wife of 63 years, Jennie Centinaro Traina of Blairsville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Dennis Lopez of Blairsville and Rose Ann and Bob Buning of Homosassa Springs, Fla.; one sister and brother-in-law, Lilly and Lewis Marchetta of Tampa; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Joe and Grace Traina and Tony Traina, all of Tampa; three grandchildren, Dennis Lopez Jr., Jennifer Lopez Walts and David Buning; two great-grand- children, Jake and Bebe Walts; and many other relatives and friends. A Private Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers if you wish, the family requests that m emorials may be made to Special Olympics in Mr. Traina's memory. Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville, Ga. is in charge of the arrangements. "You old goat, we will miss you." - His dark grey work clothes, items he wore until he retired at 86, seemed to hang on the smells of the cigar factory as if the clothes had a life of their own and were a part of John Traina himself; the warm smells of oil and sweat mixed with the earthy scent of tobacco, the metallic industrial odor of the machines he kept alive and running; and the aura from the energy and heat these machines produced. From the age of 15, Johnny grew up within the red brick walls of all the well known cigar factories during that golden era of cigar making in Tampa, Florida. To Johnny these wonderful and glorious cigars were like a holy sacrament. Within the glove compartment of his 1970 Dodge Coronet, he coveted his little treasures, Arturo Fuentes, Garcia Vega, Cuesta Rey and Hava-Tampa cigars from all the factories he worked during his lifetime as a machinist - a humidor on wheels! During World War II his career as a mechanic carried him across the Atlantic to England. Where he nursed the dreaded Liberator's that dropped bombs during the night raids over Germany. He experienced the Liberation of Paris first hand and at the end of his life would often return to those days, while he sat outside talking of the war, smoking his cigar and drinking his homemade table wine. Upon Johnny's return from England, he continued his lifelong passion for metal, grease, gears, motors and tobacco. He also had a passion for flea markets. Anyone who rode with him in the car on those early mornings to the local flea market was much relieved to get where they were going. Not even red lights or a couple of pigeons calmly resting in the middle of the road stood in the way of those useless items that "Were a bargain!" or that prized "Beautiful!" watermelon, mango or cantaloupe. If going to flea markets was a quest for that perfect tool or fruit, then the seasonal jaunts in search of that delicious wild asparagus that grows along the roadsides on the outskirts of urban Tampa, while slowly sipping hot Cuban coffee from the red and green plaid Thermos was divine inspiration. During Sunday spaghetti dinners, on those special occasions when the moon was full and fresh live blue crabs were cooking in a huge pot of tomato sauce, Johnny would compete with the grandchildren on who could secure the largest piece of crabmeat from the shell. He would crack the crab open and exclaim to everyone "Ooooh... look at this...now that is full of meat!" It was these simple pleasures he cherished the most. Johnny enjoyed his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And he immensely loved Jennie, his wife of 63 years. Now we have to say goodbye to our Jufa, Daddy, Nano and Quack-Quack; all of which are the same wonderful man. Johnny, we know you are laughing ecstatically as you ride off in the "little red wagon" in the sky.