John Rakoczy

JOHN C. RAKOCZY age 81, beloved husband for 52 years of Carol (nee Neroni); loving father of Michelle Park (husband Scot), Christine Taylor (husband Richard), and John (wife Jennifer); devoted grandfather of Chelsea Winchell, Ryan Winchell, Dayna Rakoczy, Hannah Taylor, Melanie Rakoczy, Nathan Park, Brian Taylor, Johnny Rakoczy, step-grandfather of Lauryn Park, Emily Brown (husband Jason), and step-great-grandfather of Karissa and Annalyse; cherished son of the late Frank and Rose  (nee Iswak); dearest brother of the late Agnes Rakoczy, Frank Rakoczi (wife Mary Ann), Rosemarie Szabo (husband Antal, deceased), and Thomas Rakoczy; dear brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, and friend of many.

John was born on July 4, 1935 in Windber, Pennsylvania and passed away on August 22, 2016. Formerly of Cleveland, he was a resident of Newbury since 1974.  He attended Cathedral Latin School and graduated from Cleveland Trade School. For 30 years, he worked as a lineman and foreman for Cleveland Public Power. John was a member of the Air Force and Army Reserves. He was an active member of the Newbury Jaycees, Newbury Snowmobile Club, Classic Car Club of America, Wheels of Yesteryear, Izaak Walton League, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #39. He volunteered for Cleveland Clinic Mended Hearts and Blue Coats and the Fairhill Auxiliary Police.

He enjoyed flying his Cessna 140 airplane, classic car restoration, ATV/snowmobile riding, camping, stained glass work, woodworking, collecting model trains, and playing a variety of stringed musical instruments. John will be remembered by family and friends as family-oriented, faith-filled, loyal, and hardworking. He was a great storyteller who had a wonderfully honest sense of humor. In 2000, John was a heart-transplant recipient at the Cleveland Clinic. As a person of inspiration, he was selected by the Olympic Committee to be a torchbearer in Cleveland for the 2002 Winter Games. The patriarch of his family, John will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s memory to St. Helen Catholic Church, 12060 Kinsman Rd., Newbury, OH 44065 or Autism Speaks, 1060 State Rd., 2^nd Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540.

Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, August 27, 2016 at St. Helen Catholic Church at 10 AM with military honors following. Private burial will take place at Munn Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of John at THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATIONS CENTER OF CHESTERLAND, 12811 CHILLICOTHE ROAD (Rt. 306, just south of Mayfield Rd.). FRIDAY 2-4 & 5-8 PM.