John 'Jack' Stevenson, active in YMCA

John "Jack" J. Stevenson, 83, of Milton, passed away Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes. He was born March 26, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pa., son of John J. Sr. and Eleanor (Yonaitis) Stevenson.

Mr. Stevenson graduated from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pa., where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1964. After college, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1967. He had a lifelong career with AT&T, working in both craft and managerial positions over many dedicated years of service.

He was an active parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Spring Valley, N.Y., St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Nanuet, N.Y. and later at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Lewes. He served these parishes as a religious education instructor, a lector and as a Eucharistic minister. He served on the board of governors of the Sussex Family YMCA for 17 years.

Mr. Stevenson and his family were very active in sports. He was a longtime coach of many different sports, especially basketball and softball. In the 1970s, he became the co-founder of the first girls softball organization in Rockland County, N.Y.

Over the last 15 years, Jack continued to coach basketball for the YMCA youth leagues, helping hundreds of youngsters learn his favorite sport. He was also an avid reader and a trivia sports expert as well as a lifelong devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. You could often find Mr. Stevenson at Grotto's Grand Slam in Lewes watching a game and showing off his sports trivia knowledge.

Mr. Stevenson was a loving father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, cousin, brother, brother in law and a dear friend who will be missed by all who knew him. Most importantly, Mr. Stevenson was a family man who cherished his family and friends above all else.

Mr. Stevenson was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Anne Stevenson (Devlin) in 2001 and his sister, Eleanor Stevenson Chase. He is survived by his three sons: James Stevenson and his wife Honorable Elma Bellini of Webster, N.Y., Daniel Stevenson and his wife Angela of Bergenfield, N.J. and John Stevenson and his wife Ginamarie of Wheaton, Ill.; three daughters: Marie Wipper and her husband James of Massapequa, N.Y., Nancy Guardino and her husband Anthony of Smithtown, N.Y. and Joanne Giordano and her husband Richard of Stony Point, N.Y.; 17 grandchildren: Brendan and his wife Rabia, Kevin, Danielle, Katie, Dana, Connor, Quinn, Michael, Louis, Carrie, Tory, Marisa, Leighann, Daniel, Alana, Jennifer and Charles; two great-grandchildren: Jack and Noelle; and numerous cousins, extended family and dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, June 5, at 11 a.m., at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Dr., Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Friends may also call from 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where a short prayer service will start at 7 p.m. Interment will be held Friday, June 6, at 1 p.m., at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, 36 W. Nyack Road, Nanuet, N.Y.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Stevenson's memory to Sussex Family YMCA, 105 Church Street, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.