John Given

John Dion Given, age 85 of Youngstown passed away Friday September 5, 2014 under the care of Niagara Hospice in Northgate Manor Nursing Home in Wheatfield after a brief illness. John was born October 4, 1928 in Natick, MA, the son of the late William J Given of Edinburgh, Scotland and Evelyn (Dion) Given of Lyon, France. He graduated from Natick High School and went on to study Classical Clarinet and Piano at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. John received his B.S. in General Education from Rhode Island State College and a degree in Teaching from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. He lived abroad for many years, in Rio de Janeiro where he was employed as Head of the English Department at the Instituto Brasil Estados Unidos. He taught English in Rome, Italy and at the Ecole Minerva Institute of Languages in Geneva, Switzerland. Upon returning to the United States, John worked for Northeast Airlines which became Delta Airlines. October 14, 1972 John married M. Ann Ganantz-Moon and resided in Hingham, MA until his retirement in 1985 after 18 years with Delta. They moved to Nokomis, Fl and returned to Youngstown 10 years ago. John was an avid gardener; a member of the Venice Orchid Society, the Sarasota Fruit & Nut Society and several other Horticultural groups. Throughout their 41 years together, John and Annie traveled extensively. He is survived by his wife, Annie; a sister, Isabell Wales of Scituate, MA; three nephews, William Given of Avon, MA, David Wales of Randolph, MA, and Jeffrey Moon of Morgantown, WV; a niece, Donna (Patric) Corchron of Scituate, MA as well as several other great nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, September 14, at 12:30 PM in St. John Lutheran Church, 420 Lockport St., Youngstown, with the Rev. Richard Blemaster officiating. There will be no prior visitation. Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Dr., Lockport, NY 14094. Arrangements have been entrusted to HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Rd. Ransomville, NY.