John S. Bachar

1930 - 2025

John S. Bachar, 95, of Natrona Heights, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. Born on April 26, 1930, in Natrona Heights, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Mikcuslin) Bachar. John graduated from Saint Joseph High School, Class of 1947. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952, during the Korean War, spending one year at sea and three years assisting in surgical operations at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, MD. After two semesters at St. Francis College in Loretto, John moved to New York City, where he spent his "41-year career," working for 15 years at NBC-TV and 26 years at Madison Square Garden. Highlights of his career included working at NBC-TV with numerous sports celebrities and announcers, broadcasting American Football League games and Major League Baseball's Game of the Week. He also worked with the Perry Como and Steve Allen shows at Madison Square Garden. John worked with the NY Knicks Championship team in 1970 and 1973 and the NY Rangers Stanley Cup Champions in 1994. He assisted with the live telecast of the first Ali-Frazier fight in 1971. John also produced the live telecast of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II's visit to Madison Square Garden in Oct. 1979. After retiring in May 1995, John moved back to Natrona Heights with his late wife, Helen, and they spent their remaining years as longtime residents. John enjoyed playing golf, traveling to Europe, and especially visiting his children and grandchildren in New York and Florida. He was a member of Guardian Angels Parish, Most Blessed Sacrament Campus, Natrona Heights, as well as a member of the American Legion Post #48, Natrona. Survivors include two children, Kevin (Mary Ann) Bachar of Greenlawn, NY, and Lisa (Luke) Kaufman of Ocean Beach "Fire Island," NY; five grandchildren, Bailey Marie Kaufman, Zachary, Aidan, Stephanie Bachar, and Brian Bachar Jr.; numerous nieces and nephews; and his daughter-in-law, Shelia Bachar of Lake Worth, FL. John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 45 years, Helen L. (Wisniewski) Bachar, who passed away on Dec. 20, 2004; his son, Brian Bachar; five brothers, Joseph, Andrew, Vincent, Benjamin, and Clement Bachar; and four sisters, Mary Achkio, Amelia Klobuka, Helen Calligan, and Josephine Bachar. Relatives and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in PAUL R. AJAK FUNERAL HOME INC., 2 Pine St. and River Ave., Natrona, where parting prayers will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 800 Montana Ave., Natrona Heights, PA 15065. Entombment will follow in Mount Airy Mausoleum with military honors accorded by the U.S. Navy. Memorial contributions in John's name can be made to Saint Joseph High School, 800 Montana Ave., Natrona Heights, PA 15065. To share an online condolence, please visit www.ajakfh.com.