John Joseph Ganong

John Joseph Ganong, 71, of Oak Ridge, NC passed away peacefully Friday, December 4, 2020. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00AM Saturday, January 30, 2021 at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Immediately following the service John’s final resting place will be at the columbarium located on the grounds of the church. A native of Mt. Kisco, NY, John was the son of the late Leslie and Catherine Ganong. John leaves his wife Donna of 37 years; four children, Joseph Pezik and wife, Melissa, Valentina Pasqualini and husband, Peter, Kenneth Ganong and wife, Debbie Carroll, Jacquelyn Shaw with Chris Pierce; eight grandchildren; sisters, Carol Floyd and husband, Jim, Mary Ellen McGouey and late husband, Dick; brothers, Tom Ganong, Bob Ganong and wife, Margaret; and several nieces and nephews, scattered across the U.S. John served in the US Army as a Tactical Microwave Radio Repairman from December 1970 to May 1972. He joined the Bethel (CT) Jaycees (1987- 1990) and was a 4th degree member in the Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church. John’s career as a CPA was with Takata, Inc, an auto accessory and restraint manufacturer, for many years starting with the company, Irvin Industries in New York and retiring from his career in North Carolina. He was a most loyal and hardworking man throughout his life. He had a passion for learning which was only limited by the demands of earthly life. John was comfortable having dinner at the ball park with a beer in hand or drinking a martini at the finest restaurants across continents. His travels took him from his birthplace of New York across the continental 48 states to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. A sports fan for all of his life but his most beloved passion was the night sky and the heavens above. On a clear night you could find him naming the stars and constellations above. The past few years sadly locked his mind in the prison of Alzheimer ’s disease. Even as he could not communicate in the past few years, he was always looking up towards the clouds. The expanse of the universe fascinated him and had never diminished. As we all say our final goodbye, may his soul soar across the heavens peacefully and his earthly memories never fade. Friends and family may view, and sign the guestbook at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Disease Research at Bright Focus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871, www.brightfocus.org