John C. Tolley

John died peacefully with loved ones at Hospice House of Brunswick. He was born in NW Washington D.C near Takoma Park. Educated at Nativity Catholic Grade School (1st-8th), Park Junior High and Calvin Coolidge High School.

His father passed away at a young age. As the oldest son he began working at an early age by delivering newspapers, as a teen he was a soda fountain jerk at a drugstore. He was a Lithographic Pressman for a newspaper in D.C. and a horse stable hand/exercise rider at a racetrack in Ohio.

He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a Medic in the Korean War from 1952-1954. Attended training at the Medical Field Service School at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal. After honorable discharge he worked as a Congressional Florist in D.C. His childhood friend’s father taught him the art of flower arranging.

He married Julia Giampietro in 1960, then moved to the suburbs in Seabrook, Md after their first daughter was born. 1972 marked the birth of their second daughter and their relocation to Annapolis, 3 blocks from the Chesapeake Bay.

Over three decades of his life was spent as Commercial Sales Manager at Colonial Moving & Storage Company in Md. His specialty was library, university and museum transfers. He enjoyed the challenge of estimation and logistics involving commercial moves.

One of his favorite songs was “Misty” by Johnny Mathis. He loved singing, up until a few months ago, in a choir that visited nursing homes. He was equally at home at the ballet, a football game or his beloved garden. He appreciated musical theatre and enjoyed playing golf. Visiting Pebble Beach was a memorable experience. Cruising was his favorite vacation, Aruba his best loved island. His family members have warm memories of the delicious stir fry dishes he prepared from a cookbook he purchased in Korea. Extroverted and social, he could make a new friend in seconds. He is survived by his wife, Julia, of 64 years, two daughters, Sharon and Mary, a sister, and 4 grandchildren.