John grew up in Versailles Borough, PA during the 1950's and 1960's. He attended Versailles Boro grade school, graduated from McKeesport High School in 1967 and attended Allegheny County Community College where he received an associate degree in Business Management. As his college was winding down, John left home in December of 1968 to get married and moved to Braddock. He worked in Monroeville as an assistant manager to make use of his new degree. With the implementation of the lottery system during the Vietnam War, there were no exemptions and everyone was classified as "1A", ready to be drafted.
John joined the Army National Guard in 1970 and was sent to Ft. Ord in California for basic training and then was to go to Texas to become a medic. While at Ft. Ord, he suffered an accident which cut his military career short. The next two years were spent at VA hospitals both in California and Pennsylvania. The medical technology to make him "whole" did not exist then and he was given an honorable discharge from the Army.
He returned to Versailles after his time in the hospitals. His marriage ended in divorce after a scant four years. John was unable to do a lot of physical activities that his wife had enjoyed such as dancing and bowling. After a period of about 5 years he married a second time in 1977. John decided to return to college this time for a mechanical engineering degree. He was a very accomplished artist and was a natural at the drafting table. Unfortunately, he had too much free time on his hands and ran afoul of the law. Without going into tremendous detail, he ended up with a sentence of "natural life" with no chance of parole for the severity of his crime. His second wife divorced him right before he was incarcerated.
A year was spent at the Allegheny County Jail in downtown Pittsburgh which was a burden on the family. With his father disabled, his mother had to ride three buses every few days to swap out clothing. There were no county issued jump suits and prisoners wore street clothes which had to be laundered at home. There were no jobs at the county jail for a prisoner to keep their time occupied. A few months were spent at the notorious "Western Penitentiary" a maximum security prison across the river and finally, John was transferred to SCI Huntingdon in central Pennsylvania. Incarceration not only punishes the offender but the family, too. Many times, visitors and family members are treated like criminals themselves. I applaud those folks that make regular visits to friends and relatives in prison as the Bible teaches.
John made the most of his time behind bars. He started out working in the gift shop painting ceramic souvenirs and later worked his way up to the top paying job as the bookkeeper at SCI Huntingdon, just like Andy Dufresne did in the "Shawshank Redemption" minus the extra set of books and the escape! For over 25 years he kept the books and ordered supplies for the prison until his chronic medical condition caused him to be replaced. He was released from the internal infirmary one day only to find out that he had been let go for missing too much time. Not that he was expecting a gold watch or anything on his forced retirement, but a nice letter for his quarter of a century service with a sincere "Thanks" placed in his file would have gone a long way in boosting his morale.
There was a music program in the prison with an equipment room which he was active in during his long stay. He assisted the chaplain by playing the organ for Sunday services. While at Huntingdon, inmates in this program were encouraged to form their own bands. John started the musical group called the "House of Relics" modeled after the oldies group, "Sha Na Na". Along with the oldies, the group incorporated some more modern R & B tunes. With white musicians and black singers working together, they performed at all of the special functions at the prison such as the annual Jaycee's picnic and holiday celebrations. Songs from the group were played on the local radio station in Johnstown, PA. This group was also in existence for over 25 years until the music room was disbanded due to budget cuts and internal strife.
Huntingdon was a medium security prison at that time and did not have all of the riots, ruthless gangs, and "shankings" as depicted in your typical prison movie. The prison was re-classied as a maximum security prison and career criminals were transferred from the Philadelphia area. At this time, there were a few lock downs due to an escape and more privileges were taken away little by little.
John was a model prisoner having never been written up while incarcerated. He mentored other inmates to read, write and obtain their GED's. With all of his good deeds, he was never able to have his sentence commutated by the Governor which would have allowed him an opportunity for parole. Seeing the writing on the wall, he wrote an illustrated autobiography which took 6 years to complete with the help of a few of his relatives to gather his journal notes and photographs which were left behind decades earlier.
As his health further declined after a leg amputation in the summer of 2007, he was transferred first to Erie, PA then to Somerset, PA to live out his final years. Even though this facility was not a maximum security site, life started going downhill for him. There was no music program, the one thing that kept him going during his 30 + years of incarceration. He was suddenly placed in a dorm room where his roommates were not fond of his snoring. He had enjoyed a private cell in Huntingdon for over 20 years since he belonged to the Pennsylvania Lifers Association.
I held off for several years creating this memorial, not knowing if it was appropriate. No obit was ever published and it seemed like his memory was destined to be swept under the rug. Do you disqualify someone from having an online memorial just because they died in prison? I don't think so. Before any of you are tempted to write any nasty comments in the Flower section of this memorial, let me tell you that John was not a "monster". He was bullied severely as a child and found out later in life that the man that raised him was not his biological dad. That takes a psychological toll on anyone. I still can't believe that he did what they say he did. He was mild mannered. I think that there was more to it than was brought out at his trial. We may never know what truly happened until contact is made on the other side.
He made a grave error but made atonement for his sin. There is no doubt in my mind that God forgave him. Below is John's preface to his autobiography. I think he would have wanted me to share this:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9/9/99
"Stuck inside these four walls
Sent inside forever...
Never seeing no one
Nice again..." Paul McCartney
"Today is my fiftieth birthday and I'm spending it inside of a prison hospital. Incarceration affects individuals in different ways. Some convicts take out their aggression by lifting weights and transforming themselves into super Hulk-like monsters; while others who can't handle the daily stress end up as Thorazine zombies. I've always considered myself as sort of a middle-of-the-road kind of guy. My motto is to keep busy so that my time will go by quicker. Unfortunately, recurring health problems seem to ground me every couple of months and often necessitates transferring me to the prison hospital in Smithfield where I'm ordered complete bed rest and usually an IV in my arm.
My prison hospital room is virtually the same as a solitary confinement cell (with the exception of a real hospital bed instead of a thin prison cot). This place has even less ambiance than a county morgue. It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop: no televisions, no radios, no reading material (even cheap motels have a Bible in the room), and no visitors unless the doctor approves a two-hour visit from an immediate family member. Just utter loneliness and total deprivation that can best be dealt with by sleeping as much as you can during your hospital stay. Mine usually lasts ten days to two-weeks!
As I spend this half-century milestone of my life in bed, I ponder about what I have accomplished over the years. Oh sure, I earned two college degrees, but they aren't doing me much good in here. From my high school days through my school of hard knocks days, my music has kept me going from the good times as well as the bad. My secret coping mechanism is to always have a song in my heart and a smile on my face.
Although I never got caught back then, I feel as though this "LIFE" sentence I am serving is for all the things I got away with as a juvenile. I won't go into the vivid details of my escapades, even though the statue of limitations has expired. Just be aware that nowadays, of course, the DA charges juveniles who do adult crime with adult time....no more just getting a slap on the wrist!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John spent his final days handcuffed to a hospital bed at the local hospital in Somerset, PA. With him slipping in and out of a coma, his body filling with fluid, and missing his left leg, I hardly think that he would have been able to overpower the posted guards and run away. I wish they had allowed him a more dignified death. He died from final stage liver failure. He was cremated and his ashes were returned to what would have been his home in central Pennsylvania had he ever been paroled. He is at peace now.
Incarcerated 30 years, 5 months, 3 days
John joined the Army National Guard in 1970 and was sent to Ft. Ord in California for basic training and then was to go to Texas to become a medic. While at Ft. Ord, he suffered an accident which cut his military career short. The next two years were spent at VA hospitals both in California and Pennsylvania. The medical technology to make him "whole" did not exist then and he was given an honorable discharge from the Army.
He returned to Versailles after his time in the hospitals. His marriage ended in divorce after a scant four years. John was unable to do a lot of physical activities that his wife had enjoyed such as dancing and bowling. After a period of about 5 years he married a second time in 1977. John decided to return to college this time for a mechanical engineering degree. He was a very accomplished artist and was a natural at the drafting table. Unfortunately, he had too much free time on his hands and ran afoul of the law. Without going into tremendous detail, he ended up with a sentence of "natural life" with no chance of parole for the severity of his crime. His second wife divorced him right before he was incarcerated.
A year was spent at the Allegheny County Jail in downtown Pittsburgh which was a burden on the family. With his father disabled, his mother had to ride three buses every few days to swap out clothing. There were no county issued jump suits and prisoners wore street clothes which had to be laundered at home. There were no jobs at the county jail for a prisoner to keep their time occupied. A few months were spent at the notorious "Western Penitentiary" a maximum security prison across the river and finally, John was transferred to SCI Huntingdon in central Pennsylvania. Incarceration not only punishes the offender but the family, too. Many times, visitors and family members are treated like criminals themselves. I applaud those folks that make regular visits to friends and relatives in prison as the Bible teaches.
John made the most of his time behind bars. He started out working in the gift shop painting ceramic souvenirs and later worked his way up to the top paying job as the bookkeeper at SCI Huntingdon, just like Andy Dufresne did in the "Shawshank Redemption" minus the extra set of books and the escape! For over 25 years he kept the books and ordered supplies for the prison until his chronic medical condition caused him to be replaced. He was released from the internal infirmary one day only to find out that he had been let go for missing too much time. Not that he was expecting a gold watch or anything on his forced retirement, but a nice letter for his quarter of a century service with a sincere "Thanks" placed in his file would have gone a long way in boosting his morale.
There was a music program in the prison with an equipment room which he was active in during his long stay. He assisted the chaplain by playing the organ for Sunday services. While at Huntingdon, inmates in this program were encouraged to form their own bands. John started the musical group called the "House of Relics" modeled after the oldies group, "Sha Na Na". Along with the oldies, the group incorporated some more modern R & B tunes. With white musicians and black singers working together, they performed at all of the special functions at the prison such as the annual Jaycee's picnic and holiday celebrations. Songs from the group were played on the local radio station in Johnstown, PA. This group was also in existence for over 25 years until the music room was disbanded due to budget cuts and internal strife.
Huntingdon was a medium security prison at that time and did not have all of the riots, ruthless gangs, and "shankings" as depicted in your typical prison movie. The prison was re-classied as a maximum security prison and career criminals were transferred from the Philadelphia area. At this time, there were a few lock downs due to an escape and more privileges were taken away little by little.
John was a model prisoner having never been written up while incarcerated. He mentored other inmates to read, write and obtain their GED's. With all of his good deeds, he was never able to have his sentence commutated by the Governor which would have allowed him an opportunity for parole. Seeing the writing on the wall, he wrote an illustrated autobiography which took 6 years to complete with the help of a few of his relatives to gather his journal notes and photographs which were left behind decades earlier.
As his health further declined after a leg amputation in the summer of 2007, he was transferred first to Erie, PA then to Somerset, PA to live out his final years. Even though this facility was not a maximum security site, life started going downhill for him. There was no music program, the one thing that kept him going during his 30 + years of incarceration. He was suddenly placed in a dorm room where his roommates were not fond of his snoring. He had enjoyed a private cell in Huntingdon for over 20 years since he belonged to the Pennsylvania Lifers Association.
I held off for several years creating this memorial, not knowing if it was appropriate. No obit was ever published and it seemed like his memory was destined to be swept under the rug. Do you disqualify someone from having an online memorial just because they died in prison? I don't think so. Before any of you are tempted to write any nasty comments in the Flower section of this memorial, let me tell you that John was not a "monster". He was bullied severely as a child and found out later in life that the man that raised him was not his biological dad. That takes a psychological toll on anyone. I still can't believe that he did what they say he did. He was mild mannered. I think that there was more to it than was brought out at his trial. We may never know what truly happened until contact is made on the other side.
He made a grave error but made atonement for his sin. There is no doubt in my mind that God forgave him. Below is John's preface to his autobiography. I think he would have wanted me to share this:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9/9/99
"Stuck inside these four walls
Sent inside forever...
Never seeing no one
Nice again..." Paul McCartney
"Today is my fiftieth birthday and I'm spending it inside of a prison hospital. Incarceration affects individuals in different ways. Some convicts take out their aggression by lifting weights and transforming themselves into super Hulk-like monsters; while others who can't handle the daily stress end up as Thorazine zombies. I've always considered myself as sort of a middle-of-the-road kind of guy. My motto is to keep busy so that my time will go by quicker. Unfortunately, recurring health problems seem to ground me every couple of months and often necessitates transferring me to the prison hospital in Smithfield where I'm ordered complete bed rest and usually an IV in my arm.
My prison hospital room is virtually the same as a solitary confinement cell (with the exception of a real hospital bed instead of a thin prison cot). This place has even less ambiance than a county morgue. It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop: no televisions, no radios, no reading material (even cheap motels have a Bible in the room), and no visitors unless the doctor approves a two-hour visit from an immediate family member. Just utter loneliness and total deprivation that can best be dealt with by sleeping as much as you can during your hospital stay. Mine usually lasts ten days to two-weeks!
As I spend this half-century milestone of my life in bed, I ponder about what I have accomplished over the years. Oh sure, I earned two college degrees, but they aren't doing me much good in here. From my high school days through my school of hard knocks days, my music has kept me going from the good times as well as the bad. My secret coping mechanism is to always have a song in my heart and a smile on my face.
Although I never got caught back then, I feel as though this "LIFE" sentence I am serving is for all the things I got away with as a juvenile. I won't go into the vivid details of my escapades, even though the statue of limitations has expired. Just be aware that nowadays, of course, the DA charges juveniles who do adult crime with adult time....no more just getting a slap on the wrist!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John spent his final days handcuffed to a hospital bed at the local hospital in Somerset, PA. With him slipping in and out of a coma, his body filling with fluid, and missing his left leg, I hardly think that he would have been able to overpower the posted guards and run away. I wish they had allowed him a more dignified death. He died from final stage liver failure. He was cremated and his ashes were returned to what would have been his home in central Pennsylvania had he ever been paroled. He is at peace now.
Incarcerated 30 years, 5 months, 3 days
John grew up in Versailles Borough, PA during the 1950's and 1960's. He attended Versailles Boro grade school, graduated from McKeesport High School in 1967 and attended Allegheny County Community College where he received an associate degree in Business Management. As his college was winding down, John left home in December of 1968 to get married and moved to Braddock. He worked in Monroeville as an assistant manager to make use of his new degree. With the implementation of the lottery system during the Vietnam War, there were no exemptions and everyone was classified as "1A", ready to be drafted.
John joined the Army National Guard in 1970 and was sent to Ft. Ord in California for basic training and then was to go to Texas to become a medic. While at Ft. Ord, he suffered an accident which cut his military career short. The next two years were spent at VA hospitals both in California and Pennsylvania. The medical technology to make him "whole" did not exist then and he was given an honorable discharge from the Army.
He returned to Versailles after his time in the hospitals. His marriage ended in divorce after a scant four years. John was unable to do a lot of physical activities that his wife had enjoyed such as dancing and bowling. After a period of about 5 years he married a second time in 1977. John decided to return to college this time for a mechanical engineering degree. He was a very accomplished artist and was a natural at the drafting table. Unfortunately, he had too much free time on his hands and ran afoul of the law. Without going into tremendous detail, he ended up with a sentence of "natural life" with no chance of parole for the severity of his crime. His second wife divorced him right before he was incarcerated.
A year was spent at the Allegheny County Jail in downtown Pittsburgh which was a burden on the family. With his father disabled, his mother had to ride three buses every few days to swap out clothing. There were no county issued jump suits and prisoners wore street clothes which had to be laundered at home. There were no jobs at the county jail for a prisoner to keep their time occupied. A few months were spent at the notorious "Western Penitentiary" a maximum security prison across the river and finally, John was transferred to SCI Huntingdon in central Pennsylvania. Incarceration not only punishes the offender but the family, too. Many times, visitors and family members are treated like criminals themselves. I applaud those folks that make regular visits to friends and relatives in prison as the Bible teaches.
John made the most of his time behind bars. He started out working in the gift shop painting ceramic souvenirs and later worked his way up to the top paying job as the bookkeeper at SCI Huntingdon, just like Andy Dufresne did in the "Shawshank Redemption" minus the extra set of books and the escape! For over 25 years he kept the books and ordered supplies for the prison until his chronic medical condition caused him to be replaced. He was released from the internal infirmary one day only to find out that he had been let go for missing too much time. Not that he was expecting a gold watch or anything on his forced retirement, but a nice letter for his quarter of a century service with a sincere "Thanks" placed in his file would have gone a long way in boosting his morale.
There was a music program in the prison with an equipment room which he was active in during his long stay. He assisted the chaplain by playing the organ for Sunday services. While at Huntingdon, inmates in this program were encouraged to form their own bands. John started the musical group called the "House of Relics" modeled after the oldies group, "Sha Na Na". Along with the oldies, the group incorporated some more modern R & B tunes. With white musicians and black singers working together, they performed at all of the special functions at the prison such as the annual Jaycee's picnic and holiday celebrations. Songs from the group were played on the local radio station in Johnstown, PA. This group was also in existence for over 25 years until the music room was disbanded due to budget cuts and internal strife.
Huntingdon was a medium security prison at that time and did not have all of the riots, ruthless gangs, and "shankings" as depicted in your typical prison movie. The prison was re-classied as a maximum security prison and career criminals were transferred from the Philadelphia area. At this time, there were a few lock downs due to an escape and more privileges were taken away little by little.
John was a model prisoner having never been written up while incarcerated. He mentored other inmates to read, write and obtain their GED's. With all of his good deeds, he was never able to have his sentence commutated by the Governor which would have allowed him an opportunity for parole. Seeing the writing on the wall, he wrote an illustrated autobiography which took 6 years to complete with the help of a few of his relatives to gather his journal notes and photographs which were left behind decades earlier.
As his health further declined after a leg amputation in the summer of 2007, he was transferred first to Erie, PA then to Somerset, PA to live out his final years. Even though this facility was not a maximum security site, life started going downhill for him. There was no music program, the one thing that kept him going during his 30 + years of incarceration. He was suddenly placed in a dorm room where his roommates were not fond of his snoring. He had enjoyed a private cell in Huntingdon for over 20 years since he belonged to the Pennsylvania Lifers Association.
I held off for several years creating this memorial, not knowing if it was appropriate. No obit was ever published and it seemed like his memory was destined to be swept under the rug. Do you disqualify someone from having an online memorial just because they died in prison? I don't think so. Before any of you are tempted to write any nasty comments in the Flower section of this memorial, let me tell you that John was not a "monster". He was bullied severely as a child and found out later in life that the man that raised him was not his biological dad. That takes a psychological toll on anyone. I still can't believe that he did what they say he did. He was mild mannered. I think that there was more to it than was brought out at his trial. We may never know what truly happened until contact is made on the other side.
He made a grave error but made atonement for his sin. There is no doubt in my mind that God forgave him. Below is John's preface to his autobiography. I think he would have wanted me to share this:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9/9/99
"Stuck inside these four walls
Sent inside forever...
Never seeing no one
Nice again..." Paul McCartney
"Today is my fiftieth birthday and I'm spending it inside of a prison hospital. Incarceration affects individuals in different ways. Some convicts take out their aggression by lifting weights and transforming themselves into super Hulk-like monsters; while others who can't handle the daily stress end up as Thorazine zombies. I've always considered myself as sort of a middle-of-the-road kind of guy. My motto is to keep busy so that my time will go by quicker. Unfortunately, recurring health problems seem to ground me every couple of months and often necessitates transferring me to the prison hospital in Smithfield where I'm ordered complete bed rest and usually an IV in my arm.
My prison hospital room is virtually the same as a solitary confinement cell (with the exception of a real hospital bed instead of a thin prison cot). This place has even less ambiance than a county morgue. It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop: no televisions, no radios, no reading material (even cheap motels have a Bible in the room), and no visitors unless the doctor approves a two-hour visit from an immediate family member. Just utter loneliness and total deprivation that can best be dealt with by sleeping as much as you can during your hospital stay. Mine usually lasts ten days to two-weeks!
As I spend this half-century milestone of my life in bed, I ponder about what I have accomplished over the years. Oh sure, I earned two college degrees, but they aren't doing me much good in here. From my high school days through my school of hard knocks days, my music has kept me going from the good times as well as the bad. My secret coping mechanism is to always have a song in my heart and a smile on my face.
Although I never got caught back then, I feel as though this "LIFE" sentence I am serving is for all the things I got away with as a juvenile. I won't go into the vivid details of my escapades, even though the statue of limitations has expired. Just be aware that nowadays, of course, the DA charges juveniles who do adult crime with adult time....no more just getting a slap on the wrist!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John spent his final days handcuffed to a hospital bed at the local hospital in Somerset, PA. With him slipping in and out of a coma, his body filling with fluid, and missing his left leg, I hardly think that he would have been able to overpower the posted guards and run away. I wish they had allowed him a more dignified death. He died from final stage liver failure. He was cremated and his ashes were returned to what would have been his home in central Pennsylvania had he ever been paroled. He is at peace now.
Incarcerated 30 years, 5 months, 3 days
John joined the Army National Guard in 1970 and was sent to Ft. Ord in California for basic training and then was to go to Texas to become a medic. While at Ft. Ord, he suffered an accident which cut his military career short. The next two years were spent at VA hospitals both in California and Pennsylvania. The medical technology to make him "whole" did not exist then and he was given an honorable discharge from the Army.
He returned to Versailles after his time in the hospitals. His marriage ended in divorce after a scant four years. John was unable to do a lot of physical activities that his wife had enjoyed such as dancing and bowling. After a period of about 5 years he married a second time in 1977. John decided to return to college this time for a mechanical engineering degree. He was a very accomplished artist and was a natural at the drafting table. Unfortunately, he had too much free time on his hands and ran afoul of the law. Without going into tremendous detail, he ended up with a sentence of "natural life" with no chance of parole for the severity of his crime. His second wife divorced him right before he was incarcerated.
A year was spent at the Allegheny County Jail in downtown Pittsburgh which was a burden on the family. With his father disabled, his mother had to ride three buses every few days to swap out clothing. There were no county issued jump suits and prisoners wore street clothes which had to be laundered at home. There were no jobs at the county jail for a prisoner to keep their time occupied. A few months were spent at the notorious "Western Penitentiary" a maximum security prison across the river and finally, John was transferred to SCI Huntingdon in central Pennsylvania. Incarceration not only punishes the offender but the family, too. Many times, visitors and family members are treated like criminals themselves. I applaud those folks that make regular visits to friends and relatives in prison as the Bible teaches.
John made the most of his time behind bars. He started out working in the gift shop painting ceramic souvenirs and later worked his way up to the top paying job as the bookkeeper at SCI Huntingdon, just like Andy Dufresne did in the "Shawshank Redemption" minus the extra set of books and the escape! For over 25 years he kept the books and ordered supplies for the prison until his chronic medical condition caused him to be replaced. He was released from the internal infirmary one day only to find out that he had been let go for missing too much time. Not that he was expecting a gold watch or anything on his forced retirement, but a nice letter for his quarter of a century service with a sincere "Thanks" placed in his file would have gone a long way in boosting his morale.
There was a music program in the prison with an equipment room which he was active in during his long stay. He assisted the chaplain by playing the organ for Sunday services. While at Huntingdon, inmates in this program were encouraged to form their own bands. John started the musical group called the "House of Relics" modeled after the oldies group, "Sha Na Na". Along with the oldies, the group incorporated some more modern R & B tunes. With white musicians and black singers working together, they performed at all of the special functions at the prison such as the annual Jaycee's picnic and holiday celebrations. Songs from the group were played on the local radio station in Johnstown, PA. This group was also in existence for over 25 years until the music room was disbanded due to budget cuts and internal strife.
Huntingdon was a medium security prison at that time and did not have all of the riots, ruthless gangs, and "shankings" as depicted in your typical prison movie. The prison was re-classied as a maximum security prison and career criminals were transferred from the Philadelphia area. At this time, there were a few lock downs due to an escape and more privileges were taken away little by little.
John was a model prisoner having never been written up while incarcerated. He mentored other inmates to read, write and obtain their GED's. With all of his good deeds, he was never able to have his sentence commutated by the Governor which would have allowed him an opportunity for parole. Seeing the writing on the wall, he wrote an illustrated autobiography which took 6 years to complete with the help of a few of his relatives to gather his journal notes and photographs which were left behind decades earlier.
As his health further declined after a leg amputation in the summer of 2007, he was transferred first to Erie, PA then to Somerset, PA to live out his final years. Even though this facility was not a maximum security site, life started going downhill for him. There was no music program, the one thing that kept him going during his 30 + years of incarceration. He was suddenly placed in a dorm room where his roommates were not fond of his snoring. He had enjoyed a private cell in Huntingdon for over 20 years since he belonged to the Pennsylvania Lifers Association.
I held off for several years creating this memorial, not knowing if it was appropriate. No obit was ever published and it seemed like his memory was destined to be swept under the rug. Do you disqualify someone from having an online memorial just because they died in prison? I don't think so. Before any of you are tempted to write any nasty comments in the Flower section of this memorial, let me tell you that John was not a "monster". He was bullied severely as a child and found out later in life that the man that raised him was not his biological dad. That takes a psychological toll on anyone. I still can't believe that he did what they say he did. He was mild mannered. I think that there was more to it than was brought out at his trial. We may never know what truly happened until contact is made on the other side.
He made a grave error but made atonement for his sin. There is no doubt in my mind that God forgave him. Below is John's preface to his autobiography. I think he would have wanted me to share this:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9/9/99
"Stuck inside these four walls
Sent inside forever...
Never seeing no one
Nice again..." Paul McCartney
"Today is my fiftieth birthday and I'm spending it inside of a prison hospital. Incarceration affects individuals in different ways. Some convicts take out their aggression by lifting weights and transforming themselves into super Hulk-like monsters; while others who can't handle the daily stress end up as Thorazine zombies. I've always considered myself as sort of a middle-of-the-road kind of guy. My motto is to keep busy so that my time will go by quicker. Unfortunately, recurring health problems seem to ground me every couple of months and often necessitates transferring me to the prison hospital in Smithfield where I'm ordered complete bed rest and usually an IV in my arm.
My prison hospital room is virtually the same as a solitary confinement cell (with the exception of a real hospital bed instead of a thin prison cot). This place has even less ambiance than a county morgue. It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop: no televisions, no radios, no reading material (even cheap motels have a Bible in the room), and no visitors unless the doctor approves a two-hour visit from an immediate family member. Just utter loneliness and total deprivation that can best be dealt with by sleeping as much as you can during your hospital stay. Mine usually lasts ten days to two-weeks!
As I spend this half-century milestone of my life in bed, I ponder about what I have accomplished over the years. Oh sure, I earned two college degrees, but they aren't doing me much good in here. From my high school days through my school of hard knocks days, my music has kept me going from the good times as well as the bad. My secret coping mechanism is to always have a song in my heart and a smile on my face.
Although I never got caught back then, I feel as though this "LIFE" sentence I am serving is for all the things I got away with as a juvenile. I won't go into the vivid details of my escapades, even though the statue of limitations has expired. Just be aware that nowadays, of course, the DA charges juveniles who do adult crime with adult time....no more just getting a slap on the wrist!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John spent his final days handcuffed to a hospital bed at the local hospital in Somerset, PA. With him slipping in and out of a coma, his body filling with fluid, and missing his left leg, I hardly think that he would have been able to overpower the posted guards and run away. I wish they had allowed him a more dignified death. He died from final stage liver failure. He was cremated and his ashes were returned to what would have been his home in central Pennsylvania had he ever been paroled. He is at peace now.
Incarcerated 30 years, 5 months, 3 days
