So sorry to hear of this and that I did not learn of his passing until today his birthday.  Johnny and his twin brother Tommy were my first friends in this world, and I theirs.  We lived next door to one another in Elizabeth, my family in an apartment house and his in a two family dwelling.  

My dad who also grew up in Elizabeth knew his father and our families were quite friendly.   We moved when I was about four, but we stayed in  touch and visited over time, eventually losing touch, but I was fortunate to rediscover John online.

His mother Mary was a wonderful, kind person and a fine seamstress who used to make clothing pin bags for my mother, bags that looked like young girl's dresses.  And I recall our family visiting them at their summer home in Point Pleasant.  

To this day I can still recall the layout of their Elizabeth home, a small living room facing out to the street and a large kitchen with the bedrooms being like spokes shooting off of the kitchen.  One of the things I remember was Johnny playing records for me in his bedroom, even then he had a great fondness for music.  

There was one funny incident that involved a detached garage quite a distance behind the house.  One day John's father William decided to check the roof, a flat one, on the garage.  He put a ladder on the side and stepped on to the roof, Tommy and Johnny and I followed.  It seemed like a great adventure.  When dad decided all was well, he climbed down.  Tommy and Johnny followed, but when I tried to, being a year younger, I found my legs too short to reach the first rung.

Somehow everyone seemed to have forgotten me.  Eventually I decided to jump (later I found the roof was about eight and a half feet high).   I landed on my feet, which felt hot, but no injury.  The boys mother Mary saw the event and let out a mighty scream, which alerted my shocked mother who came running only to be told what had occurred.  

Great memories.  Miss you Johnny and Tommy, a lot.

Thank you John for your wonderful store for so many years. I loved having Music Merchant in Westwood.

I met both John and his brother years ago when I began collecting vinyl again. Music Merchant had been my LRS since then. I had spoken to John some time before he decided to close. I had not heard from him in a while so I went by the store today and was informed by the store owner next door of his passing. Rest well, John. You helped rekindle my love for vinyl.

So very sorry to learn of John’s passing. Always loved visiting with him at the record store.  Sending you our sincere condolences and prayers. Rest in peace my friend 🙏

I was with John helping to clean out most of the records only 3 weeks ago.  I’ve known him since 1995. Closing the store was an incredibly stressful experience for him. He told me that he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. Now the twins can be together again. RIP John  I’m sure going to miss you

OBITUARY

John Paul Schlapak

17 August, 1947 – 23 March, 2024

Becker Funeral Home

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