John Paul Garthner, also known by his friends as “JP,” sadly passed away at age 86 on May 6, 2024 at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. He resided in Monterey County, CA with his wife, Bernadette Novelozo Garthner.
He was born on July 7, 1937 to Anna and John Garthner in Endicott, New York. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Buffalo State University, and Master’s degrees in Meteorology and Oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.
John served his country with distinction for more than 42 years combined military and civilian service for the United States Navy. He was an aviator flying the E2 Hawkeye, an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft during Vietnam. He continued to serve as a Meteorological Officer and rose to the rank of Commander. He was deployed on the USS Bonhomme Richard (amphibious assault ship), USS Constellation (aircraft carrier), USS Forrestal (super-carrier), and USS Lexington (WW-II aircraft carrier).
John’s civil service contributions at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center included primary inventor of the Naval Oceanographic Data Distribution System (NODDS), which provided a wide spectrum of environmental data from satellite imagery to 3-D atmospheric and oceanographic data fields used by the Department of Defense and various allied forces. He was co-inventor of the Optimum Path Aircraft Routing System (OPARS), a method to identify a least-cost flight path between two locations, which was deployed by over 300 governmental activities. Both NODDS and OPARS played a major role to deployed forces of Desert Storm / Desert Shield, Provide Promise, and Restore Democracy Operations.
Further, John pioneered WxMAP, a current system providing global and regional weather prediction maps and model analysis. He received the Superior Civilian Service Citation for his outstanding contributions and was inducted into the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center Hall of Fame. John Garthner was also decorated with the National Defense Service Medal, Fleet Battle Readiness Efficiency Award, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device. He also taught meteorology and oceanography at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
John was a humble, loving family man who enjoyed music, travel, race cars, skiing, and his beloved pet dog, Valentino. On his 75th birthday, he fulfilled his dream of completing the World’s Highest Tandem Freefall Skydive from an 18,000 feet altitude wearing his original navy jumpsuit. He volunteered his time as Associate Director for Laguna Seca Raceways and at AT&T Pebble Beach Golf Tournaments for about 20 years following retirement. John continued to give back to his fellow veterans and their families for many years at the American Legion in Seaside CA, purchasing and preparing dinners.
He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Novelozo Garthner, sons John Patrick Garthner and Raymond Solorzano, daughter Peggi Root, brother Raymond Garthner and sister-in-law Mary Garthner, grandsons John Christian Garthner, Jared Garthner, and Bailey Thomas Garnatz, granddaughter Caitlin Carroll, grandson Jordan Carroll, and great-granddaughter Tatum Nehring.
A memorial Mass to honor John Paul Garthner is scheduled on May 24, 2024 at 10:00 at Carmel Mission Basilica, Carmel, CA, followed by full military gravesite service at San Carlos Cemetery, Monterey CA. To share remembrances of John or to send flowers, please visit www.thepaulmortuary.com.
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