Thinking of you

Dear Dad... I'm thinking of you and all the amazing things we did together when I was young in NY, on the first anniversary of your passing. 

Love,
Ang

Johnny was like a big brother to me. In high school we were both on the football and track teams. He was the true "renaissance man" - he had so many talents & he was absolutely fearless. He always encouraged others to be all that they could be. May he RIP with the angels in heaven.

Happy heavenly birthday Uncle John. I wish I had the chance to speak with you one more time and experience your great sense of humour and sarcasm. You would fit right in with the English way of life and wish we had the chance for you & Carol to visit good old England!. You were a wonderful father figure in my life and will always have a place in my heart. My mother loved you and admired you, her brother with so much affection. So many wonderful childhood memories of the times we spent together. I have some wonderful photos of you as a baby which I hope to share with your family. Rest in peace. With all our love, Jennifer & Michael Lister, children Byron, Dylan & Grace xoxo

Happy Birthday in heaven Uncle John

Uncle John looked out for everyone. At the dawn of the email age, he had all of our email addresses and kept us connected with stories of the family, jokes, and photos. My husband, Robert Lindsey, our daughter, Aurelia and I had the opportunity to visit with Uncle John and Aunt Carolyn in June of 2021 at their home in Pocono Pines. We were passing through on our way home to Maine from Missouri. He told us great stories of Justin and showed us the picture of Justin racing in one of his last races. While visiting, Uncle John made sure we were well fed and insisted we take some food for the road. How grateful I am that we got to see him one last time. Uncle John, we know you are at peace, but we miss you just the same.

I thought I posted this but apparently it didn't take, so I'll post it again. I wrote this in FB when I learned of my brother's passing.
Well family, Today I have sad news. My brother Johnny passed away, peacefully at home. last night.
There will be a mass said for him, but he didn’t want anything more than that. No wake, no funeral.
My brother was a true Big Brother to me. I never feared my parents getting mad at me but he was another story. I remember he was on leave one time back in the early 60’s. He went to my school ( his Alma Mater) and stopped in the visit all my teachers (who were not too fond of me). When he got home he gave me what for. That night after dinner he tutored me in geometry for 3 hours. At one point I stood up to leave but was smacked back down in my chair and he gave me nuggies on my head. Ya know what? I aced the test the next day. He was a good teacher. I told my teacher what he did and she said, “ I knew you didn’t cheat, because everyone sitting around you are dumber than you are.” No hard feelings. I deserved it.
I remember one time I told my brother that my tooth fell out. I told him I lost it and I was upset that I would not get money from the tooth fairy. That was back when a quarter was a quarter. He told me to put my dirty sock under my pillow and the tooth fairy will know what happened and she’d leave me some mullah. The next morning, I looked and there were 13 pennies under my pillow. I was glad for the loot but at the same time I realized who the tooth fairy was.
I have another memory of Johnny pulling me up to the store 2 blocks away. On a sled. We had to do an errand for my mom. The way back was pretty scary, as he waited at a stop sign and grabbed the rear bumper of a car and our trip home was so much faster that the trip there.
Another time, he was home on leave and he and I taught Laurie how to walk. I was so excited, but my mother didn’t take it well. She was 9 months old. I guess my mom had flashbacks of Heidi at 9 months who was able to get away and hard to catch at the age. Heidi could run like the wind.
Johnny taught me how to ride a 2-wheeler. Unfortunately, he didn’t give me any instructions on how to stop. But as I screamed in distress, he ran up along side me and told me how to stop. Oh well, most of it was fun.
I remember the time he turned a VW bug into a dune buggy and took me on the bumpiest ride ever on railroad tracks out in St James NY. I have to say he always made us feel like we could do anything. He did not think women were uncapable. He always encouraged and had a can-do attitude. His daughter Angie takes right after him. She has that can-do attitude.
When he was in Germany (Air Force) he was driving in the countryside and noticed a barn with flames shooting out of it. He drove over and ran inside and busied himself grabbing pigs and throwing them out the door. The Long Island Press ran the story. It said he rescued 50 pigs. He told me it was 150 pigs because once he threw them out they ran back in. He also found the farmer in the back and dragged him to safety. The pigs made the headline but not the farmer. Oh well! priorities I guess.
These are just some of my memories. I know we laughed till we couldn’t breathe. We had the same Far Side humor.
I just told Bonnie about his passing. She said, “ Johnny was bigger than life.” He sure was. I am grateful that I had him for a brother. Nuggies and all. Thank you Johnny for being such a good big brother.

I remember that swing and played on it. Mt.Sinai. Yankees always heard in the house. Rest in peace brother Johnny. My sincere condolences to all.

My heartfelt condolences to all. Prayers for comfort and peace. Rest in peace Uncle Johnny.

Loving father, husband and airman survived by his wife, Carolyn Hetherington. Daughters: Angela McWilliams and Pamela Alam. Sisters: Bonnie Keane, Jill Peck, Heidi Hetherington and Laurie Jerdo.