John David Weissgarber

Lifelong Katonah resident John David Weissgarber passed away Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at Albany Medical Center surrounded by family. John was the second son born to Anna (Quirk) and Michael Weissgarber. He graduated from John Jay High School and served in the National Guard for six months immediately after high school. He retired in 2003 from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. In July 1961 in Bedford Village, John married the love of his life Bertha “Bertie” Woodstead and together had two daughters, Cherrie and Laurie. Although John and Bertie later divorced, their daughters were always first in their lives. When Bertie died in 1980 of cancer, John took Bertie’s son, Christopher Gebbia into his life and heart and treated him as a son. John loved living in Katonah and only moved to the New York State Fireman’s Home in Hudson in December 2013 when his health declined -- but he never really left Katonah. He was a sixty year volunteer member of the Katonah Fire Department and served in many roles with Engine Company 2. For the department he served as Secretary, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President and President and in 1974 as Chief when the department celebrated its Centennial. John was also a KFD newspaper columnist and volunteer at the annual carnival. He was a Westchester County Parade Judge for many years, served there as Secretary and belonged to numerous other fire organizations in the area. He was a member of the Blue Vests, Past President of the Westchester County Volunteer Fireman’s Association, Hudson Valley Volunteer Fireman’s Association member and Southern New York Volunteer Fireman’s Association member. In the early 1970s, his older brother Michael took John to his first Drum and Bugle Corps competition. He was hooked for life! He saved vacation time for the summer so he could attend as many competitions as possible. He had numerous drum corps friends spread from coast to coast. He once said this about a fire department and drum corps -- “both work for the good of the unit and not the individual” and that is why he enjoyed the drum corps so much. At one time he belonged to thirty drum corps booster organizations. He loved the Women’s UCONN Basketball team! The Mets and Jets were his teams and later the Carolina Panthers. Left to cherish the memory of John are his daughters Cherrie and husband Joseph Reinhardt of Waxhaw, North Carolina and Laurie and husband Steve Harden of Red Hook, New York and his honorary son Christopher Gebbia and wife Heather of Fernandina Beach, Florida, brother Thomas and wife Cynthia of Mendon, Massachusetts, grandchildren Leo Vogel of San Diego, California, Ryan Vogel of Red Hook, Sara Reinhardt of Waxhaw and honorary grandchildren Jacob and Jesse Gebbia of Fernandina Beach. He is survived by a niece and nephews - MaryJo McCarthy, Peter, Richard, Michael and Elisha Weissgarber. Friends for life were many for John including Katonah Fire Department members, Westchester County Parade Judges members and people throughout Westchester County and beyond. John was preceded in death by his parents Michael (1982) and Anna (1997), and two brothers, Michael (1990) and Peter (2018). Visitation will be Monday, September 10, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Firemen’s Home, 125 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson. John will be buried with his parents in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, his children ask that you donate to his favorite junior drum and bugle corps, Phantom Regiment. A scholarship will be presented to a 2019 Marching Member in his Honor. Phantom Regiment, 420 N Main Street, Rockford, Illinois 61103. (www.regiment.org)

John David Weissgarber

June 20, 1940 - September 5, 2018

Navigation

Address

Contact Us

John David Weissgarber

June 20, 1940 - September 5, 2018

Navigation

Address

Contact Us

365 Days of Grief Support