Ret. Chief Warrant Officer, 4th Class, U.S. Navy, John "JC" Catalano, 91, of Mount Penn, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Tower Health Reading Hospital. He was a son of the late James and Rose (Lauria) Catalano.
Born in Reading on April 17, 1927, John is predeceased by two sisters, Anna Catalano and Gloria (Maggio) Holland.
John was a member of Holy Rosary Church and a Reading High School graduate. He went on to Albright College and finished with his Master's Degree from Lehigh University. He was a history teacher at Northwest Junior High before becoming a Guidance Counselor with the Reading School District at Reading High School, where he retired.
John was a very proud US Navy veteran and served during WWII and Korea. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer after 43 years in the Naval Reserve. He volunteered for the Blue and Gold to interview young candidates for the Naval Academy and was a founding member of the committee that hosted the very first Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade.
John was also a Free & Accepted Mason and was a member of the Blue Lodge. He was a member of the Beneficial Society of Victor Emmanuel and founding member of the Skyline Drive Corvette Club of which he was member for over 50 years.
Survivors include a brother, Dima Catalano; two nephews, James and Dennis Catalano all of Washington State and many close friends that will miss him.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 in Holy Rosary Church, 237 Franklin St., Reading, PA 19601. A viewing will be Tuesday morning from 8:30am to 9:30am in Theo C. Auman Funeral Home, 247 Penn St., Reading, PA 19601. John will be laid to rest in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reading.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of John at Disabled American Veterans Regional Office, Manheim St. & Wissahickon Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19101 or at www.dav.org.
Fond memories and online condolences may be shared at www.TheoCAuman.com
