Afternoon with Good Friends at the Gas Lamp in Long Beach, CA

I meet John Pitts over 10 years ago in a bar called Joe Jost in Long Beach, CA. We were introduced by a mutual friend who recognized my philly accent and wanted to introduce me her philly friend John. Well, we found we are both from DELCO. He was St Mads and St James, me Notre Dame de Lourdes and O’Hara. We discussed hanging on the same street corners and knew the same people. I didn’t know John then as I was 4 years younger. It was such a great fist conversation we had over 10 years ago and soon became close friends, best friends actually. 

Many times he has come to my house where we had back yard parties and it was not unusual for him to show up unannounced and we would just site in the back yard reminisce about the old neighborhood with many laughs. I remember oysters at the boathouse, bar hoping in sunset beach, golfing at courses in Long beach, afternoons at the Gas Lamp listening to friend’s bands, partying at Phil Trani’s restaurant with good friends, traveling to Green Bay to watch the Packers play, watching the EAGLES on Sunday and the endless jokes!!

I had the great pleasure of being with Pitts when the EAGLES won the super bowl, what a night that was. And anywhere you would travel, and if you were speaking with him on the phone, he would tell you what was good, where to go etc...  He knew it all.  The list goes on and on. He was one of the most generous persons I knew and I just know he’s up there holding court, telling jokes and making them all belly laugh. I miss him lots and maybe in some form I’ll see him again...  GOD SPEED my friend... Never forgotten


I first met John back in 1973 when we were new ordinary seamen on the S.S. Arco Anchorage running to the Persian Gulf. We each had short hair and modest beards at the time. After leaving port we were assigned to muck tanks working with one of the older sailors. He took one look at us and said he didn’t want to work with those “hippies”. We proved to him that we were good workers and he finally admitted we weren’t too bad. John and I sailed together many times. After many years, he was elected chairman of the Atlantic Maritime Employees Union and I was elected chairman of the Atlantic Maritime Officers Association. We had adjoining offices at Terminal 2 with a connecting doorway. We spent many hours discussing our union duties and our dealings with management. For two Delco boys, we had come a long way. John was a bigger than life personality and loved a good laugh – regardless of how corny it was. He supported his people in so many ways without expecting anything in return. The AMEU never had a better advocate. May he rest in peace.

I’ve known, John (Pittsie) since we were in high school. Always Gino’s on Friday nights. When we were 18, it was the Bolero’s in Wildwood. 
He always was a very special person. Kind, generous and smart. 
To his family, please accept our heartfelt condolences. 
Gary and Debbie “Grosso” Noce. 

I will always remember John Pitts with a love for life , his family and friends.   He worked tirelessly for his crew mates and wanted to make sure they were taken care of.  He did it beautifully!  I remember spending time with John and a few others and we would go out on Friday nights and try new restaurants, go to movies, have dinner at each other's homes and of course, many, many laughs.  When my parents used to come visit from SLO, John and our "group" would join us to share dinner and have lots of laughs.  My parents loved him.  He will always have a beautiful legacy and I believe people will smile whenever they think of him.  It's so sad that he's gone from this earth but, he is always with us.  

On behalf of the St. James High School Alumni Association and his 1972 classmates, I extend our deepest sympathies and prayers on your loss.  On April 21, 2024, the Alumni Association will remember John at their annual Memorial Mass at St. Madeline's Church in Ridley Park, PA. May he rest in peace!

OBITUARY

John Thomas Pitts

November 26, 1954 – August 28, 2023

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services