John A. Stagg

1932 - 2022

Stagg

John A. Stagg (Age 89)

February 22, 1932 - January 24, 2022

John A Stagg of Claremont, VA, passed away on January 24, 2022. John was born February 22, 1932, in Philadelphia PA., the first born of the late Edward J. Stagg and Mary Reilly Stagg. John met his wife Norma Price Stagg, and mother of his three sons in Wildwood, NJ. He was drafted into the Army in 1952 and Norma and he were married days before he was shipped off to the Korean conflict. He was stationed in Nara, Japan and proudly served as a Military Policeman until he was honorably discharged in 1954.

Upon his return to Philadelphia, PA the couple started a family and had three sons. John made a career for himself in the printing industry, starting out as a pressman and working his way up to Director of Education for the Graphic Arts International Union.

The family moved to Northern Virginia in 1970. John and Norma divorced in 1985 but remained close until Norma's death in July of 2018.

John retired from the printing industry in the mid 1980's and spent the following years working for a credit card company, in the restaurant business and at a swimming pool store. He worked as a bartender at Placid Harbor, the trade school for the International Association of Machinists. He lived at the schools' Marina on his beloved houseboat.

Finally, John settled in Claremont VA., in a waterfront home on the James River where he spent his days writing. He was drawn to the water and loved the beach, swimming and sailing. He also loved art, music and entertaining. He planned and hosted an annual crab feast for family and friends. He ran and was elected to the Claremont town council at 85 years old. He was an active member of the Wren Writers, a writing group at the College of William and Mary.

Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Timothy (Daphne), Thomas (Leslie) and Shawn (Betsy); his grandson, Jonathon Bradford (April) and granddaughter, Reilly Stagg. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews, longtime friends and his companion of many years, Dawn Badrick. He was preceded in death by his sisters Alyse Elsasser, Maryanne Schmidt and brother Edward Stagg.

A celebration of his life will be held in in Northern Virginia on July 30, 2022, at a location to be determined.