John R. Gasparec
November 9, 1946 - September 5, 2022
John R. Gasparec, 75, passed away unexpectedly September 5, 2022 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was born November 9, 1946, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, the son of the late John and Margaret (Dutzer) Gasparec. He lived in the Shenango Valley through high school where he was a high hurdle runner and found his love of music learning to play the clarinet and through participation in the local tamburitzan group.
John graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music in 1969. In his early career, he was the band director for West Carrollton Junior High School in Ohio by day and by night was a fill in musician at Suttmillers in Dayton, Ohio where he played for stars such as Stevie Wonder, Englebert Humperdink, and Marilyn Maye. He spent most of his career as an agent for State Farm in Cincinnati where he enjoyed connecting with and serving his clients.
John was a devoted and fun-loving husband and father and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He shared his passion for music with his wife and daughter. He spent years coaching youth soccer and started the track program at St. Catherine of Sienna’s elementary school. An educator and storyteller at heart, he managed to teach you something and entertain you at the same time.
John always enjoyed sharing his wit, wisdom and racetrack tips. He spent his retirement years living in Plymouth, Massachusetts and enjoyed golfing with his grandchildren and watching them play hockey, soccer and lacrosse. His life, wisdom and martini recipes will be forever cherished by his wife Paula (Heckman); his daughter Alison Donlan and her husband Matthew of Hanover, MA; two grandchildren, Connor and Keira Donlan; one sister Dolores Houk (Gasparec) and her husband George of Hermitage, PA; one brother Steven Gasparec and his late wife Pam of Cincinnati, OH; many nieces, great-niece, nephews and great nephews.
Those who wish to remember John in a special way may make gifts in his memory to CCMpower in support of young arts who are studying performing arts at the University of Cincinnati. https://ccm.uc.edu/alumni-giving-support/support/ccmpower.html
John graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music in 1969. In his early career, he was the band director for West Carrollton Junior High School in Ohio by day and by night was a fill in musician at Suttmillers in Dayton, Ohio where he played for stars such as Stevie Wonder, Englebert Humperdink, and Marilyn Maye. He spent most of his career as an agent for State Farm in Cincinnati where he enjoyed connecting with and serving his clients.
John was a devoted and fun-loving husband and father and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He shared his passion for music with his wife and daughter. He spent years coaching youth soccer and started the track program at St. Catherine of Sienna’s elementary school. An educator and storyteller at heart, he managed to teach you something and entertain you at the same time.
John always enjoyed sharing his wit, wisdom and racetrack tips. He spent his retirement years living in Plymouth, Massachusetts and enjoyed golfing with his grandchildren and watching them play hockey, soccer and lacrosse. His life, wisdom and martini recipes will be forever cherished by his wife Paula (Heckman); his daughter Alison Donlan and her husband Matthew of Hanover, MA; two grandchildren, Connor and Keira Donlan; one sister Dolores Houk (Gasparec) and her husband George of Hermitage, PA; one brother Steven Gasparec and his late wife Pam of Cincinnati, OH; many nieces, great-niece, nephews and great nephews.
Those who wish to remember John in a special way may make gifts in his memory to CCMpower in support of young arts who are studying performing arts at the University of Cincinnati. https://ccm.uc.edu/alumni-giving-support/support/ccmpower.html
