Deceased November 18, 2019
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In Memory
His smile sometimes entered the room before his feet crossed the threshold. He was funny, gregarious and genuine. But, sadly, our classmate and friend John Giarratana—businessman, athlete, musician and devoted husband of Pam and father of Deb and Jack—passed away in Jupiter, Fla., on Nov. 18, 2019.
John was born in Malden, Mass., and grew up in nearby Wakefield. At Amherst, he majored in American studies, joined Delta Upsilon and played football and rugby.
After graduation, John enjoyed a 29-year career as an employee benefits professional with the Travelers Insurance Co. I was happy to play a small part in introducing John to the firm: During our senior year, John interviewed with another insurance firm in Hartford, Conn. On his return, he mentioned the interview to me and said he thought group insurance sounded interesting. I told him that my father managed group insurance for the Travelers in Boston, and I suggested John might talk with him. They did talk, everything was right, and my dad hired John.
John retired from the Travelers in 1995 to start his own firm, North Shore Benefit Associates, in Boston. He and Pam moved to Florida about five years ago.
John was an avid golfer. No doubt Florida provided the opportunity to improve his game, certainly more than Boston could.
A few years ago, John observed that fate sent him into myriad unplanned endeavors: his business career, music (rock band keyboard player and vocalist) and soccer (kids’ coach, referee and adult-league player). Perhaps this was true, but some astute decisions were consequential. In our 50th-reunion yearbook, he wrote that Pam, his wife of 55 years, “made all the difference,” and anyone who knew John also knew this was true.
We will miss John and remember him with great affection.
Bill Wise ’66