John Batista Tallerico

After 104 years of life, John B. Tallerico passed away peacefully. John was born on October 27, 1920, in the town of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. He fondly remembered his early years living catty-corner to the Italian

Hall, which hosted social events for the local Italian community, of which his family was a part.

John worked as an apprentice barber and then at a bank in Belle Veron. He left home to serve in the United States Army in World War II. His tour of duty took him to France, Italy, and Germany. Upon his return from the war, at the behest of his mother, John moved to Washington, DC to join his elder brother, Frank, working at the National Bureau of Standards and Technology.

While working at the Bureau, John met his wife, Evelyn, on a double date (They were not each other’s date). Following their marriage, John and Evelyn moved to Wheaton, Maryland, and then to Gaithersburg, Maryland with their son, David. John worked as a budget officer at the Bureau until his retirement at the age of fifty-five. He declared that work never truly suited him.

In his retirement, he pursued painting, both copying masterworks and creating originals. After Evelyn retired, John and Evelyn briefly lived in Clearwater, Florida, but returned to Maryland to spend time with their grandchildren. Back in Maryland, John greatly enjoyed walking at Brookside Gardens and taking trips to the National Gallery of Art to visit his favorite works.

In the final years of his life, John resided in Riderwood Village where he enjoyed teaching the staff Italian phrases and sharing his love of opera with them.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Tallerico, his brothers Frank (Martha) and Peter (Evelyn) Tallerico, his parents Salvatore and Clara Tallerico, and his daughter-in-law Sue Powell. John is survived by his son, David Tallerico, his grandchildren Laura (Juan Carlos Ramos) and Thomas Tallerico, and several nieces and nephews.