John Belletti, veteran, golfer, family man

JOHN BELLETTI, past president of the Overbrook Tile Co., a Navy veteran, avid golfer and strong family man, died Thursday.

He was 85 and was a former resident of Penn Valley and Hershey's Mill.

"He loved his family," said his daughter, June George.

"He was a wonderful father. He was an example for us to follow. He always believed in doing what was right and fair."

The tile company was founded by his late father, M. Junio Belletti, and John took it over and became president. He also was past president of the Ceramic Tile Contractors Association and former chairman and trustee of the Ceramic Tile Helpers and Mechanics Welfare Fund.

"He worked hard," his daughter said. "I've never met anyone who had such a strong love of life, and a strong will to live.

"He was very vibrant and fun-loving, with a great sense of humor. He was always laughing."

John was born in Philadelphia. His mother was the former Assuntina "Sunny" Quintano. He graduated from Overbrook High School and Villanova (in 1945) with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

As a member of the V12 Navy College Training Program, he studied at Princeton and the Naval Academy. The V12 officer-training program was initiated during World War II.

John's major pastime was golf. He was a match team member of the Golf Association of Philadelphia at the Llanerch Country Club and Hershey's Mill Golf Club. He was past president of the Hershey's Mill club.

He also was an avid fan of the Eagles and Phillies and Villanova basketball, getting out to games as often as he could.

John had a strong religious faith. He formerly was an active member of St. Justin the Martyr Church, in Penn Valley. When the church was being built in 1964, he donated tile work as well as his own time and labor.

He was also devoted to his wife, the former Dolores Loro. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last May.

Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by three other daughters, Barbara Shames, Claire Harmon and Joanne Molle; two sisters, Anita Graves and Joan Rensch, and six grandchildren.

Services: Funeral Mass 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 1260 S. Trooper Road, Norristown. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Teresa of Avila Church. *