John Fakan

Birth date: May 10, 1934 Death date: Jul 5, 2012

Dr. John C. Fakan, a long-time resident of Vermilion, Ohio, and skipper of the U.S.S. COD submarine Memorial in Cleveland, entered his eternal rest on Thursday, July 5, 2012 after a long and courageous battle against cancer. John Read Obituary

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Anne And Jim Cummings - The Villages, Fl - Friend

715w ago

We wish to extend to your family and your brother's family our heart-felt condolences. We're so sorry that we did not have the opportunity to get to know such a wonderful person.

Jason Theis - Westlake, Oh - Friend Of The Family

715w ago

My thoughts and prayers got out to Dr. John's many family members and friends. What a legacy.

Richard Pekelney - San Francisco, Ca - Friend, Colleague, Student

715w ago

Helene,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, and the Board of Directors of the Historic Naval Ships Association please accept our condolences. John inspired our community and left a strong positive impact on all our ships and crews. He will be dearly missed.

I have mailed you today a flag that was flown in honor of John aboard USS PAMPANITO on 8 July 2012.

John was a colleague, friend, teacher, and mentor to me for almost 20 years. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I called John with a problem and either his thoughtful use of first principle physics, his kindness, or his call for patience found a solution. I loved John and will miss him.

Perhaps we can all go out flint knapping on the way to a sub-zero night in the woods without a tent…, or maybe just smile at the memory of how much fun this was for John. I do remember John turning down my offer of a bag of pine needles in favor of a bed when he stayed in my San Francisco apartment.

Miranda Gammella (Nee Snell) - Brunswick, Oh - Friend

715w ago

I was saddened to hear of Dr. Fakan's passing this morning from my father, Jim, who had been a long time ham radio friend of Dr. Fakan. While I haven't seen him in many years, I have fond memories of being at Dr. Fakan's home when I was a child. I remember being enchanted with the design of his house. He was always very nice to me. I wish I could've paid my respects to him and his family yesterday, but he knows I'm thinking of him now. I will have to make sure to visit the USS Cod soon as well, as it would be a fitting tribute to him.

My prayers to Dr. Fakan's family. He will not be forgotten.

Miranda Gammella (nee Snell)

Hmc(Exw) Charlotte Ward - Akron, Oh - Cpoa Cleveland Member

715w ago

Thank you so much for the gift he was to the Navy and World; my deepest condolences for his loss.

Skip Woods - Vermilion, Oh - Scouting Friend

715w ago

Dr. Fakan (John) will truly be missed. Because of his interest in helping boys learn and becoming young men, Both my boys earned their BSA Eagle Scout. I enjoyed our time together going to summer camp, and talking about all sorts of things. John was one of the smartest and most friendly man anyone could have the pleasure to meet. He will be missed.

Skip, Margaret, Chris and David Woods

Jay & Jill Boggess - Grand Coulee, Wa - Friend Thru The Uss Cod

715w ago

I knew two of John's kids (Steve & Deb) at VHS long before I ever met him thru the Cod. We would see Dr. John and Cod whenever our lives in Chicago, Alaska and Washington could spare a visit back to Vermilion. He loved to share his latest stories of ups and downs of running a WWII sub museum. Perhaps the best was when an internet company got John's home address in Vermilion associated with the Cod - next thing he knows, there are tourists wandering the shores of Lake Haven Estates Reservoir looking for a 312-foot long submarine...

Jill & I will miss him dearly.

Rita Blanford - Vermilion, Oh - Neighbor

716w ago

"I don't eat desserts," said John, "with one exception--if the dessert is home-made." So it was that John tasted my home-made dessert (if only I could remember what it was), this in the course of one of his neighborly visits at our home A very dear, caring sage man he was and for this, and much more, will he be remembered very fondly.

Bernie Kozak - Vermilion Ohio, Oh - Friend From Church 10:30 Mass St

716w ago

A FINER MAN WOULD BE HARD TO MEET,HIS PASSION FOR LIFE AND LOVE OF PEOPLE WAS OUTSTANDINGLY ODVIOUS.I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM TELLING ME EVERY SUNDAY HOW MANY MILES HE ROAD ON HIS STATIONARY BIKE BEFORE MASS.THE PEPERMINT CANDIES HE WOULD PASS OUT TO THE CHILDREN,AND WITH OUT A DOUBT THE LOVING SMILE AND WARM HEART THAT WILL TRULY BE MISSED BY ME.A MAN OF HONOR WHO I AM PROUD TO HAVE KNOWN,BERNIE KOZAK

Terry And Vicki Jones(Daughter Stephanie) - Vermilion, Oh - Friend

716w ago

Dear Helene and family,

Vicki and I were grieved to hear about the passing of your beloved husband John. He was a wonderful man who seemed to like everyone he came into contact with. He was very interesting to talk to and seemed to love his family very deeply. One of my own memories of him was when my own father(who was himself a WW2 vet in the Army Air Corp.) was still alive, and my wife Vicki was carrying around Stephanie(who was at that time less than a year old) stopped at the memorial site of the USS Cod. John directed this younger man to give us all a tour of the ship, after he had greeted us very warmly. Dad was very excited to take this tour. Vicki says her memories of of him was when she was a receptionist at the DoJung. When Matt was taking lessons at the karate school he would sit there reading some book and talking with her. She found him fascinating!!!

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