John F. Spirk, Sr.

John F. Spirk, Sr., was the loving husband of Mary Soda Spirk. They celebrated their sixty-second wedding anniversary last June. John had a long, full and happy life, as husband, father, grandfather, educator , athlete, referee, and service organization member.

Upon retirement as a school director he was recognized for his fifty years in public education when the Bethlehem Area School District named its Fountain Hill Elementary School in his honor.

In his career he taught social studies at Fountain Hill, Math at Northeast, Principal at Fountain Hill High School and Assistant Principal at Liberty High School. He served five years on the former Fountain Hill School Board and ended his career with election to four consecutive terms on the Bethlehem School Board including two years as president.

John was president of the Schoolman's Club, vice-president of Bethlehem Education Association, was regional director and executive committee member of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

Born on June 18, 1920 to Frank and Louisa Bartholovits Spirk, in Bethlehem, John graduated from Holy Ghost School and from Fountain Hill High School in 1938, where he played baseball, and in basketball led the Lehigh-Northampton League in scoring his senior year.

He was a WWII veteran serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946. After his military service he returned to Lehigh University, graduating in 1948 having attended classes during the day and working at the Bethlehem Steel Coke Plant at night.

An avid athlete and competitor he played in numerous city fast pitch softball leagues during its hey day, refereed East-Penn League Basketball for twenty-five years and soccer for twelve years. He coached Becahi baseball for two years and was an accomplished golfer. He was vice-president of Fountain Hill Little League. He

enjoyed going to the gym even in retirement.

John was a long time officer of the former Fountain Hill Beneficial Society, was active in their Christmas charitable work at the Children's Home. He co-chaired the fund drive for a new Fountain Hill Fire truck and was a member of numerous other civic organizations.

After retirement as assistant principal, he was a realtor for Century 21. Then in his second retirement he enjoyed his family and especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by his daughter, Rosemary Spirk Hensel, son John F. Spirk Jr. and his wife Marian, all of Bethlehem. Grandchildren Drew Hensel, and Maria, John III, Kathryn, and Michael Spirk and also a sister, Elsie Spirk, of Fountain Hill. He was preceded in death by brothers Frank and Joseph Spirk, a sister Margaret Kovacs.

A visitation will be held at Connell Funeral Home, Inc. 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem on Tuesday May 30, 2006 from 6-8PM and again at the funeral home on Wednesday May 31 2006 from 9-9:30AM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anne?s Catholic Church 450 Washington Ave. Bethlehem, on May 30, 2006 at 10AM.

Entombment will be held at Holy Saviour Cemetery.

In lieu of Flowers memorial contributions may be made in memory of John to Lehigh Valley Parkinson?s Support Group 1031 Flexer Ave. Allentown PA 18103

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