John Valentine Horsting

John was born during the Depression as the eldest of four surviving children, the only son, to parents of German immigrants who believed in hard work and frugality. During Catholic school he worked at various jobs including at one of his Father's three gas stations. He joined the Marine Air Corps in the Carolinas at 17, barely making entry weight, as World War II was wrapping up. After discharge, he worked commercial AC inventory during the early years of that industry. He was called back to the Marines for the Korean War and did a third year of service. Discharged in 1952, he married beautician Pietranella (Nelly) Accardi from the Italian side of the tracks in his hometown of Queens, New York. Started night school to be the first of two in his family to earn a college degree in IE, while living above Nelly's father's beauty shop.

Afterwards, with a third child coming, John and Nellie prepared a move to a tract home in New Jersey in a former cornfield, to give the children a yard to play in. That gave John a four hour round trip commute to New York City for five years, still working in oil Inventory Management, plus other jobs including installing fencing weekends and selling vacuums worknights at a NJ department store. Then, with the dawn of the computer age and the first commercial mainframe (IBM 360), to oil country in Indonesia (where he learned ”Horsting” is Dutch and Nelly had child #4), Lebanon, and Libya with his family, then Illinois, NY, Newfoundland, and Connecticut as a computer system consultant after graduate night course work in computer systems.

In CT he met Gail Chinell, a program manager, who became his second wife in 1982. They both moved on to Saudi Arabia and upon their return to Jersey City he was eventually forced (1989) to retire early, moving to Florida. He earned a lifelong dream of getting his Private pilot's license at 72, along with enjoying visits with his four children: John J, Chase, Diane, Paulette; as well as his 10 grandchildren. Despite being frequently sea sick, John piloted small boats around his Maine and Weeki Wachi vacation homes with family aboard, as well as from Williamsburg VA to Tom’s River NJ via the Atlantic. He and Gail went on countless cruises and air trips, traveling to over 100 countries on all continents except Antarctica. John was also determined to continue his adventures locally in a power chair after losing the ability to walk in his last 6 months.

He is survived by Gail, his children, grandchildren, and one great grandchild; all of whom have a love of exploration. His legacy also includes the fact that three of his children graduated college, as well as seven of his grandchildren - three of whom earned a total of 6 Advanced degrees.