John attended Clifton High, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and then graduated from the University of New Haven with a bachelor’s degree in Operations Management. He worked at Uniroyal in Passaic, NJ, and then was transferred to Oxford, CT, to work in systems at USCO. He also worked at Stanley Corporation and ended his career at American Electro Products in Waterbury, as the Systems and Purchasing Manager in the IT Department.
John is survived by his wife, Betty, of 51+ years; his daughter, Becky Charles, and her children Joshua, Bethany and her husband, Billy Bailey, and their daughter Coraline of Wallingford; Jennifer and her husband Scott Torello, and their children, Faith, Sophia, Savannah, and Odin; Emily and her husband, Jay Messina, and Emily’s step-son, Andrew, of Waterford. He is also survived by his beloved aunt, Theresa Gallo of CA, his sister Diane Borkowski of Fair Lawn, NJ, and his two younger brothers, Allan Charles of Mount Arlington, NJ, and Ronald Charles of Martinsville, NJ, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to say a special thanks to the team at West Haven Veterans Affair Medical Center and especially Mike Sweeney at CT Hospice for going above and beyond with their care and support. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter, 2911 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06318 or the VACT Medical Center, Home Based Primary Care, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516.
Visiting hours will be Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main Street Ext., Wallingford. A final viewing will be Thursday, January 20, at 11:00 a.m.-12 noon at St. Lawrence Church, 7 Hemlock Drive, Killingworth, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12pm. Interment with military honors will be at All Saints Cemetery, 700 Middletown Avenue, North Haven.