Obituary of John Nakovich

John Nakovich, Jr. John was born and raised in Marianna, PA. His parents were John (Pappy) and Margaret Nakovich. John was the oldest of four children and "Big Brother" to his brother Frank and sisters Joyce and Porgie. He was an Eagle Scout, played football in high school and always had a strong interest in science. He graduated with a BS degree in Chemistry at California University of Pennsylvania, earned a Masters degree in Forensic Chemistry and a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. John served ten years in the military. He had five years of active duty as a Captain in The US Air Force which included a tour of duty in Vietnam where he was assigned to the Saigon Air Operations Center. While there he helped forecast weather for flight missions which included the rescue of downed pilots and other servicemen. He then served an additional five years in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. In 1976 John combined his passion for science and love of his country as he began a career with the US Federal Government. He continued to serve his country for the next 33 years before retiring in 2009. Although John was dedicated to his country, he was truly devoted to his family. He was married to his wife Joan for 38 years and had two children, a daughter named Laura and a son named John. It was often noticed how much He enjoyed being a Father. John never missed a game, match, meet, or competition that either of his children competed in. He would let nothing stand in his way of supporting his family, which he often referred to as his team. John has always enjoyed outdoor activities including rock climbing, hiking, camping, and fishing. He always looked forward to his annual fishing trips to Conneaut Lake with some of his closest friends. His other passions included tennis, golf, photography, and a life-long love of lifting weights. John passed away on October 21st 2013 due to complications associated with CMML, a chronic form of Leukemia.