John and I became friends through the football team. I know he lived with only his mom and they struggled a bit. He used to ask me to pick him up after practice to take him home or go places. He worked hard to become a good quarterback and had hoped to get a scholarship. As with a lot of classmates, I lost contact with him when I went to college, but always hoped he had gotten that scholarship and had had a good life. I am saddened by his passing and my thoughts and prayers go out to any family he had......
John was one of the first athletes to wear contact lenses. (He hated wearing glasses with a band in back to hold them on.) At the time, they were "hard lenses" and he always had trouble with them. I remember one of them popped out during a game and the officials stopped everything while we hunted around for it. I doubt in anything like that would happen today!
So very sad to learn of John's passing. We were in Boy Scouts together beginning in elementary school. As John lived only with his Mom, my Dad would often be a stand-in Dad for John at Scouts and at the Hillcrest YMCA on Father-Son events. He was a really good quarterback, going on to set passing records at Ohio Northern where he is in the Hall of Fame (though he never forgave me for intercepting him when I played at Memorial and he played at Greenview!). He visited me when I was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas back in 2007. He always admired Coach Riser's athletic accomplishments in the Senior Olympics. A good friend and a good person. I'm very sad that we lost him.
John Smith, he was our quarterback, was really into it, left no bones, that he wanted to our No.1 quarterback, he was an outgoing friendly guy, he was in my 8th grade German class and was comical in the class. Very sad, he has left us so early.
John and I met up at Brush High. We were friends and hung out together occasionally. We had a common bond, the loss of our Father at a young age. Like most of my High School friends my military service and late entry into collage resulted in the loss of contact. I hope John had a good life, I know he did have a tryout for the Raiders football team, one of John’s passions. Rest In Peace John
Paul Joseph
John was a great guy. Great quarterback and a great human being. He was a sweet soul. i will miss him
Anthony DeIuliis
John and I became friends through the football team. I know he lived with only his mom and they struggled a bit. He used to ask me to pick him up after practice to take him home or go places. He worked hard to become a good quarterback and had hoped to get a scholarship. As with a lot of classmates, I lost contact with him when I went to college, but always hoped he had gotten that scholarship and had had a good life. I am saddened by his passing and my thoughts and prayers go out to any family he had......
John was one of the first athletes to wear contact lenses. (He hated wearing glasses with a band in back to hold them on.) At the time, they were "hard lenses" and he always had trouble with them. I remember one of them popped out during a game and the officials stopped everything while we hunted around for it. I doubt in anything like that would happen today!
Carter Ham
So very sad to learn of John's passing. We were in Boy Scouts together beginning in elementary school. As John lived only with his Mom, my Dad would often be a stand-in Dad for John at Scouts and at the Hillcrest YMCA on Father-Son events. He was a really good quarterback, going on to set passing records at Ohio Northern where he is in the Hall of Fame (though he never forgave me for intercepting him when I played at Memorial and he played at Greenview!). He visited me when I was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas back in 2007. He always admired Coach Riser's athletic accomplishments in the Senior Olympics. A good friend and a good person. I'm very sad that we lost him.
Max Burstyn
John Smith, he was our quarterback, was really into it, left no bones, that he wanted to our No.1 quarterback, he was an outgoing friendly guy, he was in my 8th grade German class and was comical in the class. Very sad, he has left us so early.
Max
Christine Kavanaugh (Wheeler)
So sorry to hear of John's passing. He was one of the "nice guys". May you rest in peace.
Robert Lisy
John and I met up at Brush High. We were friends and hung out together occasionally. We had a common bond, the loss of our Father at a young age. Like most of my High School friends my military service and late entry into collage resulted in the loss of contact. I hope John had a good life, I know he did have a tryout for the Raiders football team, one of John’s passions. Rest In Peace John