John Dimitroff

John Dimitroff, son, husband, father, mathematician, master carpenter, inventor and registered patent owner.  Born April 17, 1932 in Glassport, Pa to Stefka and Fidan Dimitroff, who arrived from the Old Country in the mid 1920’s. 

John fondly liked to reminisce about his early days as a young boy roaming the hills of Glassport with his dog. He still remembered the exact hill where he laid his dog, Spook, to rest. John loved the outdoors and picnics. He had many a hilarious story that he shared with family and friends about his adventures. One of his fondest memories was spending his summers with his brothers at Whipkey Dam.  He began his working career in the family bread business, driving the red delivery truck through every manner of weather, frequently out delivering the post office in blizzards along with his brothers.  He and his brothers were very close, so close they all joined the Navy together. He served over 8 years as a Navy reservist.  He married Jeanette and went to work at Copperweld in Glassport before moving the family to California where he pursued and accomplished his dream of becoming a master carpenter.  John perfected his craft which he passed along to his son Mark.

John and Jeanette eventually moved from Orange to their dream house in Lake Matthews.  John was very proud of his house and property. This was the home in which he lovingly cared for his wife who suffered from dementia for 16 years.  John was a faithful caregiver to his wife and they enjoyed many moments in what he referred to as his ‘happy place’. The view from the patio at sunset was inspiring and filled him with joy.  It truly is a beautiful sight to behold. 

In his retirement, John was not content to sit idly around.  He worked with his son in his construction business and when it became too difficult to swing a hammer, or he didn’t feel comfortable leaving Jeanette, he took to his old hobby of gardening.  You could always tell where a Dimitroff lived in a neighborhood by the number of planters, with various stages of growth, around the house. So he invented a new kind of plant container with his partner Dean. After Jeanette died, he devoted more and more time to getting the Re-Pot business operational.  His youngest son John assisted him in acquiring the  computer skills necessary for the business.  He also took his health seriously and participated in a dietary research group and exercise group.  For better or worse, when John walked into the room everyone knew he was there and never forgot it!

John had a fondness for traveling and adventure.  Being a family man he didn’t often have the opportunity to pursue his adventuresome spirit but in his retirement he and his daughter Melany took many a road trip through the desert and national parks of California and Nevada. He traveled to Alaska and explored from Anchorage to Denali with Greg & Melany in an RV, even catching his limit of halibut.  He especially enjoyed the trip where he dropped his granddaughter, Rachel, off for test pilot school. Her graduation was truly a very proud time for him.  At 88 he drove himself to his son Mark’s job site in San Louis Obispo, to enjoy the outdoors and the view. His last adventure was a family trip this past April, to see his Seattle cousins, Betty, Rob & Joan and his granddaughter Baylie.   

John converted to Catholicism as an adult.  He loved his faith and he loved Jesus. John was very involved with his local church, St. Mary Magdalene. He especially enjoyed the fundraisers and parish festivals with the ladies of the Filipino Ministry. John was also known to not so quietly spread God’s word by distributing the book ‘Jesus Calling’ to those he thought could use a spiritual boost. He gave away dozens of copies of that book which he faithfully read daily even up until his passing.

John defined the word fidelity in his marriage to Jeanette, especially in their later years. John in telling Jeanette good night would say, ‘I love you dear lady. I love you, I have always loved you and I will always love you”.  Jeanette preceded him in death, along with his sister Barbara and brother Cy.  He is survived by his brother Jimmy (Mildred),  sisters Louise (Jim Bonner), Stephanie (Paul Bowers) and Nancy (Paul Smith),  his daughter Melany (Greg Chrash), sons Mark (Kelly) and John (Beth) and grandchildren Rachel & Olivia Chrash and Baylie Dimitroff and numerous nieces and nephews who enjoyed and fondly listened to his humorous stories and words of wisdom.   

While John enjoyed flowers and plants, he would greatly appreciate donations made in his name to Priests for Life https://www.priestsforlife.org/ as he was a strong advocate for life from conception until natural death. May his memory be eternal!

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