John Albert Dondero's Obituary
John Dondero Obituary
John Albert Dondero, 84, of Oberlin, Oh passed away April 24, 2018. He was born August 12, 1933 to Carmella (DeMartini) and John Dondero in Jersey City, NJ. He graduated from A.J. Demarest High School in Hoboken, NJ and was a proud veteran, serving as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. He then graduated from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ and later received his Master’s degree from the University of Toledo. John began his career in education as a teacher and football coach at Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, NJ. In 1968 he and his family moved to Fremont, OH where he was a teacher, coach and then principal at several area high schools including St. Joseph Central Catholic, Woodmore, Margaretta, Hopewell-Loudon and Oberlin. He also worked his way through college and during his summers as a pressman at the Hudson Dispatch in Union City, NJ and the Fremont News-Messenger. Upon his retirement he moved to Hawaii, where he lived for 8 years, until returning to Ohio to be near family and friends. He was a huge fan of his “hometown hero” Frank Sinatra, enjoyed reading and writing, having several articles published in magazines and newspapers such as the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and traveled to Washington, D.C. with Honor Flight for World War II and Korean War veterans in 2015. John is survived by his children, Geralyn Long, John G. Dondero, and Judie (Brian) Burmeister of Fremont, Tim (Tammie) Dondero and Tina Dondero of Columbus, OH; brother Raymond Dondero of Barnegat, NJ; grandchildren Ashley and Bryan Long, Rachel Wagner, Samantha and John A.V. Dondero, Emily and Addison Burmeister, and Hanna and Lauren Dondero; great granddaughters Lyndee and Audree Wagner; and companion Jeanne Bay. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald Dondero, and Margaret Rose Dondero. A mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 4, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 550 Smith Road, Fremont, OH with Fr. Krzysztof Kardzis officiating. John’s family will great friends in the narthex of the church following the Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy New LIfe Hospice, 3500 Kolbe Road, Lorain, OH 44053. Arrangements were entrusted to Dicken Funeral Home, Elyria, OH. SERVICES Mass of Christian Burial Friday, May 4, 2018 10:00 AM Sacred Heart Catholic Church 550 Smith Road Fremont, Ohio
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