John Scullin

John Scullin, age 85 of Seminole, FL, passed away on June 6. He was an active member of St Jerome Catholic Church in Largo, where he was a reader at mass and served as a Eucharistic Minister. He also brought communion to the homebound.

Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, he lived in Fords, NJ and attended St Mary's school until he moved with his parents to Staten Island, NY as a small child. There he was enrolled at St Peters and continued as a student till his graduation in 1955.

In 1953, while attending a high school basketball game at Madison Square Garden just before the Knicks were to play, Judy Farley spotted John as he spoke to her cousin Donald and decided she wanted to meet this very cute guy. Their first date was Christmas Day in 1953, where they shared a roast beef sandwich at the skating rink in Rockefeller Center, enjoying the Christmas tree and starting a high school make-up/break-up relationship, keeping life anything but dull.

In 1956 he enlisted in the army and was deployed to Korea, where he played saxophone in the Army band - a skill he'd honed with his high school group, The Crescents. After about a 16 month separation, John asked Judy to marry him while they were at Immaculate Conception Church on Staten Island and gave her a ring, wanting to start their sacramental relationship in the best way they could. They were married on September 12, 1959.

Starting a family right away, John worked at his father's deli while attending Fordham University in Manhattan. Eventually, to keep money coming in as he worked on his degree, he took a night job in another deli, and was a part-time reporter for the Staten Island Advance - a job he loved. When his degree was nearly complete, he accepted a position teaching Catholic school 5th graders, wrangling 50 students in one room.

After graduation from Fordham, he took a job writing for an engineering firm in Manhattan.

Before too long, he was hired on at 3M, moved his family to Minnesota in 1970, and had 2 more children to complete their family. He worked as a writer and an editor, making 3M his lifelong career.

Deeply committed to his faith and family, he maintained a life of prayer. He loved music, movies and books. He traveled when he could. He was kind to insects and small creatures, preferring to take them outside over killing them. He loved turtles and pelicans. He was an excellent and thoughtful writer. He greatly honored and respected women, especially his beloved wife Judy. He loved the beach and a good cheeseburger. He did not love a necktie.

He was preceded in death by his oldest son John, parents John and Katherine, his brothers Patrick and Hugh, his mother and father in-law Wilhelmina and Charlie and sister-in-law Barbara. He is survived by his wife Judy, brothers Jim and Dan, sister-in-law Chris (Joe) and his children; Kay (Patrick), Sue, Chuck (Brenda), Patrick and Josh (Lenicia); his grandchildren Jessica, Andrew, Scott, Connor, Maggie, Helen, Dylan, Julia and Sean. He leaves behind great grandchildren Kinsey, Aidan and Carter as well as many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

The family will host a visitation on June 16 at St Jerome Catholic Church in Largo beginning at 10 am for one hour. The funeral service will take place immediately following at 11 am in the same location. Interment will follow at Serenity Gardens Funeral home in Largo. A reception will be held at the church after interment.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Suncoast Hospice or St Jerome's Catholic Church.