John A. Vass

John Anthony Wash Vass died on Friday September 26, 2008 in his home after a lengthy bout with caner. He was the husband of Goldie Gregoria Gaul Vass for 65 years. He was the son of the late John and Teresa Freund Vas, both of Hungary. He graduated from Bethlehem Vocational High School and enlisted in the Army where he served the country as a World War II veteran in New Guinea, the Philippine Islands and Japan. After the war, he attended East Stroudsburg State Teachers College under the G.I. Plan where he graduated in an accelerated three-year program. He continued his education and received a masters of education degree from Lehigh University. Following graduation he taught in the Bethlehem Area School District; elementary health, physical education and history at Washington Junior High School and East Hills Middle School and Physical Education at Freedom High School. In addition he was the Coordinator of Health and Physical Education for the school district. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also coached football and wrestling at the junior high level, high school basketball with his son and baseball in the Nazareth community. He was also the Supervisor of Physical Education Youth Activities at the Bethlehem Y.M.C.A. He was a member of St. Annes Catholic Church in Bethlehem, Bethlehem Schoolmens Club, Pennsylvania State Association, South Bethlehem Volunteer Firemens Relief Association, Bethlehem M.O.R.A. and Bethlehem Y.M.C.A. Survivors: John is survived by his wife, Goldie; his brothers, James Wash of Bethlehem, George Vas of Bethlehem, William Wash of Florida, and his sister, Terry Lawrence of Bethlehem. He is also survived by his children, Jack Vass of Allentown and Janice Vass of Selinsgrove; his grandchildren, Kimberly Mitch of Belvedere, N.J., Scott Vass and Christy Stehly of Bethlehem, and Kevin Vass of Thousand Oaks, Calif. along with six great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, September 28, 2at Connell Funeral Home, Inc., 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem. Additional calling hours will be on Monday, September 29, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 29, at 10 a.m. at St. Annes Catholic Church, 450 Washington Ave., Bethlehem. Contributions: Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers may be sent to Hospice of the Visiting Nurse Association of St. Lukes, 1510 Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem, PA 18017.