John Daniel ‘Red’ Anaruma (October 18, 1928 – September 10, 2010) died peacefully in his sleep Friday morning at 9:14 a.m. from complications due to a variety of illnesses. He was upbeat and irrepressible until the end.
Born in Covington, Kentucky to John and Amy (Mackabee) Anaruma, Red’s father was a bus driver and his mother was a housewife. Red was one of four brothers, all of whom were raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Red graduated from Purcell High School, a Roman Catholic parochial school in Walnut Hills, and then served in the United States Navy until 1950, earning the World War II Victory Medal and rising to the rank of Seaman First Class.
After the service, he traveled around the country, settling in Alaska during the building of the pipeline where he was known as “Dangerous Dan.” He eventually returned to Cincinnati where he was the proprietor of several nightclubs and other entertainment establishments in the Cincinnati and Louisville areas. In the mid-1980s, Red left the bar business and began a second career as a truck driver, working for M&M Cartage for almost 20 years until he retired in July 2005. He was married several times.
A service to celebrate Red’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Pavilion at the Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery Central, Radcliff, Kentucky with honors from the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be held from 5—8 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 16) at Arch L. Heady-Cralle Funeral Home, 2428 Frankfort Avenue.
Please make any donations to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), or send condolences to the family at www.archlheadycralle.com.
A colorful character, Red is survived by his step-son, James Strohmaier, his companion Shirley Haulter and her close friend, Gwendella Powell, numerous other friends including Fred K. and Bill C., his caregiver, Robert Magers, and Robert’s lovely family. For the past 26 years Red was in recovery, being a proud member of Gamblers Anonymous. He liked sports, swore by vitamins, and will be missed.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18