John Harry Fay

1926 − 2015

John Harry Fay, aged 89, of Madeira Beach, Florida, died on May 21, 2015, from colon cancer. He was born and lived in Hardwick, Massachusetts, where the Fay family has lived for nearly three centuries. He went to Hardwick High School, and attended the all-year reunion (his 62nd) in 2006. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Hardwick MA. John enlisted in the Navy right out of High School in 1944, and was sent to the Pacific Theater. While waiting to disembark at Mindoro Is., The Philippines, his destroyer escort was kamikazied by two airplanes. Many jumped and drowned, but he had the presence of mind to wait for the rescue ship. Shifted around 11 times that fateful day and hit by a 5” piece of red-hot shrapnel on the collar of his life vest, he was finally shipped back stateside and eventually to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He served the rest of the war there and in Newport, Rhode Island, although he had never mentioned these details until last year. He received 3 medals. He met his lovely bride-to-be, Johanna, at a USO dance while working on the USS Houston at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They were married on Jan. 5, 1947, in Brooklyn, NY, and recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. Karen was born in New Jersey “on the way” “up home” to Hardwick, where Donna and David were born. Coral and Janice were born after they moved to Baldwin, Long Island, NY, where they eventually took over Johanna’s parents’ boat, Pal III. They later moved with The Pal to Madeira Beach, FL, where they lived for 30 years. He was an active member of the Church by the Sea for decades. John loved golf--extremely proud of his hole-in-one, and bowling with the gang.

John is survived by his wife, Johanna Caridi Fay of Madeira Beach, FL; five children, Karen O’Loughlin of Boulder, CO, Donna Phillips of Black Hawk, CO, David Fay of Madeira Beach, FL, Coral Mosbø of Dubuque, IA, and Janice Frick Walker, of Oxford, PA; his sister, Shirley Fay Della Penna of Hardwick, MA; and 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Christopher and Austin O’Loughlin.

A Memorial service held 2:00 p.m. June 13, 2015 at the Church by the Sea, 13701 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708.

His ashes will be buried in the Fay family plot in the Hardwick Cemetery, Hardwick, MA.

Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st St. Seminole, FL 33776/ 727-391-0121