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John A. Marriott, 1940 Spangler Road, Hermitage, passed away peacefully at 1:28 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, at his residence. He was 70.

John was born July 27, 1941, in Montclair, N.J., the son of Frank Panico and Helen Marriott.

He attended Montclair High School. John left high school and joined the armed services. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force having served during the Vietnam Era. He was a member of the military police stationed in Newfoundland, Canada for four years. Upon completion of his enlistment he obtained his general educational development certificate and furthered his studies at Union College, Cranford, N.J. where he earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice. He graduated in 1984 from the F.B.I. National Academy.

After college, John joined  the Plainfield (N.J.) Police Department, where he worked as a police officer and detective for 12 years and reached the rank of sergeant. In 1976 he moved to Hermitage and became the chief of police. He served as chief for 22 years and retired in 1998.

He was a member of the Patrolmen Benevolent Association, New Jersey, the Fraternal Order of Police, Hermitage, and The F.B.I. National Academy Graduates. He was a life member of the Mercer County Chiefs of Police and the International Chiefs of Police.

John enjoyed painting with water colors and farming. He raised beef cattle, chicken and turkeys on his farm.

He was a court-approved marriage counselor in Mercer County. He was a marriage teacher for 25 years.

He was a member of Grace Chapel Community Church, Hermitage, and of  McGregor Baptist Church, Fort Myers, Fla.

He is survived by his wife, the former Donna Jean Gibb, whom he married May 21, 1968. Also surviving is his mother, Helen Pickens, Holly Hill, Fla.; three daughters, Elizabeth Louvelle and her husband Robert, Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland, Canada; Kimberly O’Kresik and her husband Lt. Commander Stephen O’Kresik, Retired U.S. Navy, Franklin, Va.; and Pamela Petrosky and her husband Rodney, Dallas, Texas; two sons, John T. Marriott and his wife Patricia, Hubbard, and Mark A. Marriott and his wife Mary Ann, Hermitage; a sister, Ellen Pickens, Ormond Beach, Fla; ten grandchildren, one great=grandson, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, John’s family suggests that anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution in his memory to please consider Grace Chapel Community Church, 4075 Lamor Road, Hermitage, 16148, or the Family House 5301 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, 15232.