John G. Boytim

1929 - 2017

John G. Boytim, 87, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 20, 2017, at his residence. Born Oct. 22, 1929, in United, he was a son of the late John and Susan (Kendi) Boytim. John grew up in Norvelt and graduated from Hurst High School Class of 1948. John served in the Army during the Korean War conflict, 1947-1951. He retired from Bell of PA in March 1985 with 33 years of service, and had worked as an outside consultant for Thomas and Betts (Memphis, Tenn.) from 1987-2000. He was a member of the Norvelt Golf Club, the Slovak-American Club, the BPOE No. 907 for 57 years, the American Legion for 49 years, and the Mt. Pleasant Township Lions for over 55 years. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 39 years, Helen (Guzik) Boytim, in August 1993; brother-in-law, Andrew Vahaly; and a nephew, Andrew. John is survived by his son, Dr. Mark J. Boytim, and wife, Ann, of Lewes, Del.; and grandchildren, Jacqueline, Katherine, and McKenzie; by his second wife of 21 years, Cheryl, and son Jace Hamill, and wife, Laurie; and grandchildren, Madalyn and Cohen; sisters, Virginia Vahaly, and Betty Sue (Paul) Mondock of Norvelt; nieces and nephews, Richard, Suzanne, Paul, David, and Andrea; four great-nieces; and nine great-nephews. John was a kind and generous person, giving of his time and wisdom to family and friends. He was very proud of his Slovak heritage and loved his polka music. He always said he wished he could buy the time people waste every day so he could live forever. There was still so much to see and do in this world of ours. He was an avid golfer, arranging many golf trips with his first wife, Helen, and their friends. He built and lived in his home on Ridgeview Drive in Latrobe for 39 years. Upon marriage to Cheryl, he got wanderlust, traveling extensively for business and pleasure. He learned the hard way when packing for trips that the beer goes in first and then the golf clubs. He visited all 50 of the United States and circled the globe on one trip more than 25,000 miles. His golf feats included a hole-in-one and shooting his age for the first time at age 78. His favorite hole in golf was always the 19th hole. He was most proud of the fact that he shook the hand of Eleanor Roosevelt in 1937 when she came to dedicate Norvelt. So to everyone - "Pozegnanie moi przyjaciele, az znow sie spotkamy!"
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the JOHN J. LOPATICH FUNERAL HOME INC., 601 Weldon St., Latrobe. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Church, with the Rev. Anthony Carbone as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery with graveside military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Norvelt Volunteer Fire Department.