John Tobia, 95

Oct. 20, 1914-Jan. 14, 2010

John Tobia, 95, of Windham, N.H., passed away peacefully Jan. 14, 2010, at the Warde Health Center in Windham.

John was born in Rutland, Vt., on Oct. 20, 1914, to Camillo and Angelina Tobia. He grew up in Southbridge, Mass., where he attended school and was president of the graduating class of Mary Wells High School in 1931. He received his degree in Engineering from the University of Alabama.

John's interests and hobbies were wide and varied, including: sports (especially college football and baseball), reading, league bowling, softball, singing and dancing, painting, Scrabble, horseshoes, education and "fixing things." While his children were young, John served as both a Little League Coach and PTA president at Searles School in Methuen, Mass.

John's work history includes service as an engineer at AVCO Research and Development in Wilmington, and Western Electric in Haverhill, Mass.

John is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Claire L. Tobia, of Windham; his three children, John "Toby" Tobia and spouse, Tami of Eagle River, Beth and spouse, Jim McGuire of Windham and Michael Tobia of Hampton, N.H.; his four grandchildren, Jared McGuire, Rebecca Tobia Maines, Katelyn Elizabeth Tobia and Michelle Elizabeth Tobia; his four sisters, Grace McCarthy, Susie Niejadlik and Anne Tobia all of Southbridge, Mass., and Mary Connor of Wakefield, Mass., and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his siblings Lucy Wilson, Thomas Tobia and S. Paul Tobia.

There are no funeral services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Douglas and Johnson Funeral Home, Salem, N.H.