John Joseph Mack, 87

John Joseph Mack, born Oct. 8, 1935, passed away on Dec. 4, 2022.

He was born in Rossiter to Giovanni DiMeco (a.k.a. John Mack) and Evelyn DiMeco (Caretti) (a.k.a. Evelyn Mack). He was the youngest of six, the only boy, and he helped raise thousands of chickens at the family farm on Johnsonburg Road, resulting in his nickname, Chick. After his father’s untimely death when John was two years old, he was raised by his mother and his adoring sisters, Inez Jorno, Lillian Hodgson, Elaine Ellis, Edith Fusco and Henrietta Nash.

John married Barbara Joan Mack (McCracken) on July 3, 1957 in Maryland. John and Barb raised their four children, Kathy Mack (Mark Wilson, deceased), Karen Maxfield (Jim, deceased), John Mack, Jr. (June), and Lisa Mack Thornburg (Jacque) in Lakewood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.

John grew up in Rossiter, where he made lifelong friends, including George Senott, John Mizerock, Augie Catalano and Greg Smith, plus too many countless others to name who were all like brothers to him. He played many roles in peoples’ lives, including being a role model to numerous nieces and nephews. John will be especially missed by his nephew Blase Hodgson and wife Melissa, who provided loving companionship and assistance in his later years.

Before marriage, John joined the U.S. Army in 1953 with the intention of fighting in the Korean War which, by the grace of God, ended the week before his deployment, so he was stationed in Greenland instead. After his military service, most of John’s working years were spent at Warner & Swasey in Cleveland, where he was a master machinist. He ended his career at Northrop Grumman in the Oceans Systems Division, manufacturing torpedoes for the war effort. In his retirement until present, he was very active in the community, including being president of the Eagles Club in Punxsutawney, a member of the Italian Sons & Daughters of America, and serving as Honor Guard for the American Legion Lodge 582, where he was Commander for years.

John was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast. He attended ball games of all his children, nephews, nieces, friends, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Friends and neighbors were like family to John — once you met him, you became a lifelong friend, and as anyone who knew him can attest, he maintained his connections by the phone attached to his ear! He was also an animal lover and ensured family pets were well fed, along with every deer, turkey, crow, goose or other critter around the farmhouse!

John, also known as Gramps by his adoring grandchildren, will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Barb; his four children; his 13 grandchildren, Jillian Mack (Benjamin Smelley), Carrie Scheetz, Cathy (Ryan) List, Drew (Jessie) Maxfield, Derek Thornburg (deceased), Derek Maxfield, Kyle Mack, Danny (Michelle) Maxfield, Josh Mack, Lindsay Maxfield, Tyler Thornburg, Connor Mack, and Hannah Mack; and his 11 great-grandchildren, Leah Maxfield, Mady List, Cailyn Maxfield, Anthony Maxfield, Lucas Scheetz, Maeve Maxfield, Mia List, Finley List, Dominic Maxfield, Gideon Thornburg and Jaxen Mack.

A celebration of life will be planned for spring 2023 at his family farm in Rossiter, where countless family parties have been hosted by John. Details to follow at a later date. #ChickMack #TheNose #HeyBarb #Gramps

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to any of the following organizations, which were all very important in his life: Rossiter Baseball, c/o The American Legion, PO Box 247, Rossiter, PA 15772; FamilyHouse. org, the non-profit facility that housed his family members every time they cared for him at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh; and Rossiter Playground Association, c/o Barbara Mack (Secretary), 342 Johnsonburg Road, Rossiter, PA 15772.