John F. Reardon

Waterbury- John F. Reardon, age 80, of Townsend Ave Waterbury, died Thursday at Waterbury Hospital after a brief illness. He was the husband of Geraldine "Gerrie" (Basilico) Reardon.

John was born on July 16, 1927, the son of the late Dennis and Lydia (Grohs) Reardon. He was a graduate of Crosby High School and Rumford Prep School, earned his Bachelors of Science (BS) at Arnold College, his Masters Degree (MS) from the University of Hartford and his 6 year certificate from Southern Connecticut State University. He served with the US Marines, proudly serving his country during World War II and began his distinguished teaching career with the City of Waterbury in 1954 teaching in the cities grammar school system for four years and then he spent 21 years at Crosby High School where he was teacher and Guidance Counselor, Athletic Director, Swimming and Baseball Coach. He transferred to Kennedy High School in 1965 where he was a teacher and swimming coach for 11 years. Despite all of his years and accomplishments in the city sports programs, he was first and foremost a teacher and touched countless young lives during his distinguished teaching career that spanned 36 years.

He was a member of the Waterbury Retired Teachers Association, the CEA and NEA. As a swim coach he won 5 state titles throughout his career, was the State of CT Swim Coach of the Year in 1966 and 1968 and a member of the CT High School Coaches Hall of Fame. He was an honoree of both the Waterbury Sportsman's Club and the Waterbury Olympian Club. He directed the City's "Learn to Swim" program each summer for over 30 years.

Besides his devoted wife of 56 years, John is survived by his son Gary, two brothers, William Reardon of Southington and Ernest Reardon of Florida, a sister, Denise Tice of Cheshire, his brother and sister-in-law Jack and Marian Moriarty of Waterbury, his nephew Jeffrey Moriarty and his wife Pamela and their two children Leah and Connor Moriarty. He also leaves a nephew John Moriarty and his wife Teddy of California and several other nieces and nephews of the Campbell, Taylor, Reardon, Tice, Hoey, Bisaillon families. Mr. Reardon was pre-deceased by a brother, George Reardon and two sisters; Margaret Bisaillon and Joan Hoey.

The family wishes to extend their personal thanks and appreciation to Drs. Edwards, Alfano, Percarpio, Flanagan, and the entire staff of the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center. Additionally, they would like to acknowledge the dedicated and caring staff at the Waterbury Hospital Outpatient Medical Therapy Department and the Nursing staff of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Pomeroy 9.

Funeral Services for Mr. Reardon will be held on Monday, December 10, 2007 at 9:30am from the Casey-O'Donnell Family Funeral Home 1581 East Main St Waterbury to SS Peter and Paul Church, 67 Southmayd Rd Waterbury, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends may visit at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 3-6pm. Memorial donations in Mr. Reardon's memory may be made to the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1186 Chase Parkway Waterbury CT 06708 or to the "Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer", 300 George St. New Haven CT 06510.