John James Spagnola

John James Spagnola, 90, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, with his family by his side.

John was born Sept. 1, 1933, in Youngstown, the son of the late Mary Occhipinti and Joseph Spagnola.

John enjoyed growing up on the South Side, having fond memories of family, playing with friends and work experiences as a youth.As a child, he enjoyed helping at the Pyatt Street Market to assist local farmers sell their fruits and vegetables at their weekly sale. As a teenager, he worked as an usher at the downtown Warner Theater and later worked as a TV antenna installer. After graduating from South High School in 1952, he worked at General Fireproofing, GF, in the shipping department. John knew the hardships of being unemployed many times during the early 1950s and was thankful for his employment.John served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, during the Cold War in the Ordinance branch. After basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and advanced training at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, he was stationed in Captieux, France.While there, he supervised French civilians improving munitions and making them ready for the next war or a possible WWIII. He took his job very seriously. He earned the National Defense Medal, the Cold War Certificate and the Marksman M1 Carbine Qualification Badge. After John was honorably discharged, he attended Youngstown College (now YSU).

John began as a civil servant, an unemployment claims taker for the State of Ohio for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, working in Niles in 1963. Then he later transferred to Elyria taking a position as an interviewer and an employer representative. He helped secure hundreds of jobs while assisting in the opening of several large department stores such as JC Penney’s, Sears, Zayres, Hills, Montgomery Ward and many small independents while living in Elyria and then he transferred to Youngstown in 1968.He worked at the Youngstown Ohio Bureau of Employment Services on South Avenue where he was involved in the Man Power on the CETA programs.In August of 1977, John was then promoted to employment services manager two weeks prior to the Sheet and Tube shutdown and shortly after the closing of U.S. Steel. John managed the re-training programs and sought money from out-of-state employers to interview and hire many laid-off steelworkers in his office building. He later supervised employer groups to hire applicant job seekers. He briefly managed the entire district and served as an advisor and interim manager for several offices. He was instrumental in starting and supervising the Account Executive and Job Service Employer Committees in Northeast Ohio. He was assigned to manage and remedy functions of offices from Lake County to East Liverpool until his retirement in December 1994. John always felt gratified helping the unemployed, especially the employers with government contracts to hire veterans.As a hobbyist, he always enjoyed repairing early radios and televisions, playing the accordion, and building model airplanes and ships. John also learned early on how to repair automobiles and anything that required mechanical attention in the household, such as plumbing and electric. He was always the family’s go-to guy for anything that broke, while his children were growing up, and after. John also enjoyed family get-togethers , especially barbecues with grilling beef, ribs, and chicken that were the family’s favorites. He loved roasted Lamb in the oven orcooked on the grill. John was a WWII buff and always enjoyed watching old Monsters, classic, war movies, and documentaries.

John was a member of the Public Employees Retirement Association, the NRA and the American Legion Boardman Post 565 where he served as past Post Commander.

He is survived by his daughter, Jennie (Steve) Virgallito of Austintown; son, John (Jenelle) Spagnola of Poland; and five grandchildren, Stephanie Virgallito, Joseph Virgallito, Anna Spagnola, Jenna Spagnola and John Spagnola. Also, a brother, Robert of Florida.

John was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife, Elizabeth Farinelli Spagnola, whom he married on Oct. 19, 1963, and who passed away Feb. 17, 2019; brothers Sam (Salvadore) and Joseph Spagnola.

A private family Mass took place at St. Paul the Apostle Church and John was laid to rest next to his wife in Poland Riverside Cemetery.

John will always hold a special place in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives, full of memories of how he has shaped their futures and guided them through thick and thin.The loss of a father is a heavy burden to bear. He’s a source of quiet strength that is so missed when he’s not there. Take comfort he’s in Heaven and looking down at you. He’ll be there through the coming years, watching over and guiding you. He’s your very own guardian angel and he’ll be with you to the end when you meet again in Heaven, and your broken heart will finally mend.

Professional arrangements were handled by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel.