John E. Master

John E. Master was born on August 4, 1935 in Reading, PA to Earl A. Master (former principal of Reading High School) and Marion Master, and peacefully entered the gates of heaven on March 23, 2025 after a years long battle with dementia and finally a significant stroke which occurred on March 21, 2025.

John graduated from Reading High School in 1953 as Valedictorian and then continued his education at Yale University, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and earning the Wohlenberg prize for engineering scholarship.

Following his graduation from Yale, he married Barbara Joan Master on June 22, 1957 at Calvary Evangelical and Reformed Church and they spent their honeymoon driving to Harvey, Illinois where John began his professional career in the Process Design section of Sinclair Oil Company.

After 5 years, John moved on to serve as an assistant project engineer in detail engineering and construction for several manufacturing facilities in both oil refining and chemicals. In 1965, John became the first Manager of Computer Process Control for Sinclair Petrochemicals and later became the Technical Manager at Sinclair’s Lyondell Facility, directing the quality control laboratory, the process engineering section, and the library. In 1973, when Sinclair was acquired by Atlantic Richfield, the Lyondell Facility became known as ARCO Chemical Company. In 1978, John was asked to go to the home office of ARCO Chemical in Philadelphia as Manager of Process Services in the corporate Engineering and Environmental Department. He continued to advance at ARCO being named the Manager of Engineering in 1982 and then the Executive Manager of Engineering Environmental in 1983. By 1989, when it became obvious that the rapid expansion of ARCO Chemical facilities required a separation of engineering and environmental responsibilities, John was named Executive Director of EH&S, a role he held for 4 years. In 1993, John became Executive Advisor, EH&S in ARCO Chemical and was loaned to the Chemical Manufacturers Association in Washington D.C. to head the U.S. chemical industries participation in development of voluntary environmental management standards through the International Standards Organization (ISO). He was immediately named Chairman of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group on Environmental Performance Evaluation, as well as serving as the U.S. chemical industry spokesman to all other ISO environmental management standards development.

In addition to his other duties, John served on the director’s board of the Engineering and Construction Contracting Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for several years, serving as the Chairman in 1986. In addition, from 1990 to 1994, John served on the CMA’s International Affairs Committee, the last two years as Chairman.

Although John retired from ARCO Chemical in 1995, he remained a consultant to both CMA and the American Petroleum Institute through completion and adoption of the primary standards in 1998.

As referenced above John and Barbara (and their youngest son Kevin) permanently moved back to their home state of Pennsylvania in 1979 where he and Barbara lived in the same house near Valley Forge National Park for 45 years, all the while commuting several times a week to either the country club to golf or to the church in Reading he spent his youth in, met his wife in, and got married in. Along with Barbara, John stayed active in this church and thoroughly enjoyed weekday trips with his close friends to do minor and sometimes major repairs on this beautiful church of old. John was the “Master” of what was called “The Monday Morning Crew at Calvary”, always looking around to see what needed to be done to keep the building in good condition. When there were occasions where there was work to be done on a ladder, John was the first to volunteer to hold the ladder so he could “stay grounded”.

John's interests and hobbies included the more significant, like HO-gauge model train building in his basement and his love for golf (being a long time member of Waynesboro Country Club near his home in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania) but also the simpler pleasures in life, like sitting by a fireplace, an afternoon or evening minor league baseball game in Reading, unshelled salted peanuts, chocolate, just about anything with extra jelly, and almost any flavor of ice cream. He enjoyed sports (especially baseball) as this was about the only thing he ever watched on TV. He also was a fan of the sport of friendly jesting and light-hearted sarcasm, and most of all LOVED to laugh! Johns voice was distinct, deep and booming (and at times downright unintentionally scary). But he used his voice well as he was often called upon at church to communicate announcements or read scripture. He loved all sorts of music (singing hymns an octave below where they were written) and could often be seen tapping his toe to any song boasting a strong beat. He enjoyed day trips with his close friends, Lancaster County being one of his local favorites, however, John would often ask to turn on the recirculating air control in the car to keep the noxious farm odors in check.

John was a man of honor, integrity, and respect. In his later years, he talked about loving to hear the name of Jesus in church or really from anyone’s lips, especially those of his family! His family was proud of how he maintained his sharp wit and profound dry sense of humor even in the midst of his mental and physical struggles during his final years this side of eternity. He will be missed by all of us!

His surviving family includes his loving wife of almost 68 years, Barbara Master, his oldest son Greg and his wife Louise, his six grandsons, Garrett, Grayson, Grant, Caden, Jace, and Reid, and his two great grandsons, Levi and Bennett, his daughter-in-law Rachel, and his honorary "goddaughter" Dianne Beck.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Marion and Earl, his younger brother Jim, and his youngest son Kevin.

There will be a Celebration of Life service for John to be held Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Calvary United Church of Christ in Reading, PA located at 640 Centre Avenue. Service will commence at 11:00 AM EDT.

Although the family is quite appreciative, in lieu of flowers or any other gracious condolence offering, the family kindly requests donations be made to Calvary UCC. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.aumansinc.com for the Master family.