John B. Moniz

Known for his quiet and mild-mannered ways, John Moniz was a man of great character who found that true reward comes in loving others. He was a hard working man of great integrity who was accomplished in his field, yet it was being proud of the man he looked at in the mirror that was his driving force. John possessed a personal relationship with the God he treasured and in doing so, demonstrated that faith is truly a matter of the heart. Although he will be deeply missed, John leaves behind a legacy rich in integrity, honor, and unconditional love that his children, grandchildren, and grandchildren will be proud to carry on.

As the year 1921 dawned, America was driving forward at an unprecedented pace and it would be our unbridled thirst to succeed that would take us places we had never been. Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in Physics, Boeing moved from the furniture industry to the airline industry in order to meet the growing demand for air travel, and the play-by-play of the World Series was first broadcast across the airwaves. Amidst this vibrant time, this was a year of great celebration for the family of William and Theolinda (Souza) Moniz since it was on June 17th that they welcomed the birth of their son, John. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, John was the middle of five children in his family including his brother, William, and his sisters, Ezaltina, Cleothilda, and Thelma. He experienced a childhood that was relatively typical for the youth of this generation. John attended local schools where he excelled in his studies and was part of the ROTC.

After graduating from high school, John went on to New Bedford Textile School where he was introduced to the young woman with whom he would share a lifetime of love. Her name was Lucille Blanchard and she was the cousin of a good friend. They started dating during which time John transferred to North Carolina State University. As our nation became involved in WWII and with a desire to serve our country, John joined the Navy. He was privileged to do his military studies in radar operations at various schools including Tufts University, Notre Dame, Harvard, and MIT. John was commissioned as an ensign and served aboard the USS Bering Strait – a seaplane tender in the Pacific Theater that earned three battle stars by the war’s end.

Once John was discharged, he returned to his sweetheart and they married on August 25, 1945. He then went back to North Carolina State where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. Not long after graduating, John took a job with Hercules Powder Company as a research chemist at their research center in Wilmington, Delaware. As he climbed the ladder in the company, John moved his family to Brunswick, then Savannah, Georgia; and Franklin, Virginia before moving to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1963 where he worked as the plant manager in Parchment. A true planner, John made sure he was able to retire at a young age so that he could enjoy the sunset of his life. His official retirement was in 1980 when he was in his late fifties.

Although work certainly played a vital role in John’s life, nothing was of a higher priority than his family. He and Lucille were blessed with four children: Claire, Steven, Christopher, and Amy, and they were the light of his life. John worked hard to support his family, yet he also had time to play an active role in the lives of his children including in his boys’ scouting, serving as an examiner for merit badges.

Through the years, John always made sure there was plenty of room for fun. He bowled on leagues for many years and took trips to the south to do some deep sea fishing. John loved to golf and did quite a bit of woodworking including a doll house complete with furniture. His keen analytic mind was evident in his bridge game and his love of crossword puzzles and other word games. He never lost a game of Scrabble. He kept his mind sharp doing crosswords and played countless games of bridge. During his retirement years, John and Lucille traveled the world. They visited all 50 states, most of Europe, and even took a trip through Central America, crossing through the Panama Canal.

For so many reasons, John was such an extraordinary man who was dearly loved. Although he was quiet and didn’t say much, he had a great sense of humor and was known to throw in a quick-witted comment just about every time he spoke. John was a family man through and through who viewed his grandchildren to be his greatest reward. He was raised in the Catholic faith and although he didn’t regularly attend services, he had a personal faith and belief in God that never wavered. John was a real handyman who could seemingly fix just about anything whether it was a job great or small.

Life will never be the same without John Moniz here, but he lived a long and fulfilling life rich in so many blessings. He was known for his steadfast faith, his deep love for his family, and his quiet strength. A man who traveled the world over, John found true happiness to be wherever he was gathered with those he treasured. A timeless gift to so many, John will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.

John B. Moniz of Portage died December 18, 2010 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Members of John’s family include his wife, Lucille; his children, Claire (Richard) Mackey, Steven Moniz, Christopher (Patricia) Moniz, Amy (Michael) Smith; his grandchildren, Tracy, Janna, Jay, Madeline, Evan and Matt and his great-grandchildren Connor, Bailey, John, Connie, Dylan, Patrick, Jesse and Kyle. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Life Story Funeral Home, Portage; 5975 Lovers Lane (344-5600). Please visit John’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo, sign his memory book online before coming to the funeral home, or make a memorial donation to an organization of your choice.