John Patrick Masterson, 75, Professor Emeritus of English at Catonsville Community College, long-time member of the Washington Scottish Pipe Band, and dedicated CCD teacher at St. Mary’s Church, died at his home on May 17th, surrounded by loved ones.
John was born in Elizabeth, NJ where he developed his life-long love of airplanes and unmistakable musical talent. After graduating Marist High School in Bayonne, NJ, he attended Newark State College (now Kean University) where he studied English and became interested in folk music.
In 1964, he came to Maryland for graduate school where he met his wife, Pamela. He began teaching English at Catonsville Community College in 1966 and retired CCBC in 2011. John and Pam moved to Annapolis in 1975 where they raised two daughters, sailed a small boat, and threw raucous parties with plenty of men in kilts.
John will be remembered as a legendary wit, beloved teacher, devoted father and husband, noted reveler, and guitarist and piper extraordinaire; as a standard-bearer for all things Irish, merciless dispatcher of cocktails, grammar guardian, apron model, armchair Jeopardy wiz, purveyor of puns, and font of good cheer; as an insatiable news hound, a dimpled tippler, clever wordsmith, master of snacks (his “famous dip”), exemplar of charity, friend magnet, Jersey boy, iconic parader (magnificent in a Scottish feather bonnet), master of ceremonies, man of faith, and, quite possibly, the world’s nicest man.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Pamela Walker Masterson, daughters Jennifer Martin Odenwald (Peter) and Joanna Masterson Young (Geoffrey), and grandchildren Jack, Maddy, and Peri Odenwald, all of Annapolis. His brother, Jim (Maureen), and sister, Liz, still reside in New Jersey with their daughters Colleen Masterson and Jennifer DiBenetto.
A viewing will be held 5-7pm Tuesday, May 29th at John M. Taylor Funeral Home with a Mass to follow 10:30am Wednesday, May 30th at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Annapolis.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Maryland in his memory.
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