John Raymond Hollenback

John Raymond Hollenback, 86, of Newton Lake, Greenfield Township, died Monday October 6th at the Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center, in Scranton. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Nancy Tryon Hollenback, who died July 13, 2019.

Born in Carbondale, son of the late Raymond Bryce and Edna Warren Hollenback, he was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, in Carbondale. He was a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School, Carbondale, Class of 1957. During high school he had fond memories of working as an usher at the Irving Movie Theater in Carbondale. After high school, John worked at Sikorsky Aircraft, Connecticut, briefly before enlisting into the military. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving as a Storekeeper aboard the USS Des Moines CA-134 with the Sixth Fleet, based in Villa Franche, France, for three years from 1958-1961. John took part in the 1958 Beirut crisis in Lebanon in Operation Blue Bat. He received a commendation letter from President Dwight Eisenhower as part of the ship's crew participation in Beirut. Later, John served aboard the USS Boston CAG-1 for 8 months in 1961 until his discharge from the Navy. He was awarded the National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After leaving the Navy, he moved to Nutley, New Jersey, living with his sister, Betty Radassao. John then became a member of the Navy Reserves for two years in order to finish out his enlistment contract.

John used his G.I. Bill benefits for technical licensing and certifications. While living in New Jersey, he was employed as a security guard for Wells Fargo, as a Traffic Manager at Bellmark Corporation in Bloomfield, and later operated a catering business route in Passaic.

In July of 1968, he married the love of his life, Nancy Tryon, at Saint Rose in Carbondale. Their reception was held at the Elk View Country Club at Crystal Lake. They resided in Passaic, New Jersey, until moving to Clifton in 1973. He was an active member of Saint Clare’s and Saint Andrew’s Churches in Clifton, New Jersey, and would operate fundraising bus trips for the parishes to both concerts and Yankees games.

John and his wife, Nancy, moved back to the Carbondale area in 1993, building a home at Newton Lake. John worked at the Lackawanna County Healthcare Center, Peckville, until his retirement. John and Nancy also volunteered with the Carbondale Shade Tree Commission for many years. They also raised money and purchased the first Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera for the Carbondale Fire Department in the late 90s - early 2000s.

After his retirement, John spent time enjoying his hobbies. John loved fishing at Newton Lake and listening to music, especially music by his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, and others including: The Rat Pack, Dean Martin, and Bobby Darin. He was a Frank Sinatra karaoke singer who enjoyed bringing his shows to nursing facilities and community senior centers in the area. John was an avid New York Yankees and New York Giants fan. He was a lover of German Shepherds, having been the owner of three of the breed; Hanz, Ranger, and Shadow.

One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren, Presley and Liam Hollenback, as well as watching them grow up. Nothing gave him more pleasure than talking to Liam and Presley about their school activities, sports, and sharing Andy’s Pizza with them. To say he was a proud grandfather was an understatement.

John is survived by his son Patrick Hollenback, and wife Annemarie; two grandchildren, Presley and Liam Hollenback; a sister-in-law: Rosemary Grizzanti and husband Samuel; a niece, Jean Radassao; two nephews: Samuel and Joseph Grizzanti; and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by a sister; Betty Radassao, and brother-in-law; Angelo Radassao.

The funeral will be Tuesday, October 14th from the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home, Inc., 55 Lincoln Avenue, Carbondale, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale.  Interment with military honors, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.  Friends may call Monday from 4 to 6 pm.

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