John Albert Aho
Born on May 20, 1936 in Butte, MontanaDeparted on March 21, 2021, in Palm Bay, Florida
John Albert Aho passed safely into the hands of God in the late evening of March 21, 2021 at the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, FL following a lengthy illness. John was born on May 20, 1936 in Butte, Montana, to Albert and Anna Doner Aho. He attended local schools and graduated from Butte High School. Growing up in Butte engrained into his heart a lifetime dedication to helping others, no matter what or when, and putting others first- a philosophy he exhibited for the rest of his life. John went on to earn baccalaureate/graduate degrees or certificates from at Carroll College in Helena MT, US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD (nominated by then Senator and later majority leader Mike Mansfield (MT), Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Fletchers School of Diplomacy, and the George Washington School of International Law, all in Washington, D.C. He was a proud veteran of the US Navy. John worked for several years as an administrative assistant at the US Senate in Washington, D.C. Over the years, he worked for various US Senators and with members of the family of President John F. Kennedy.
What John cherished most in his life work was volunteering. He had a soft spot in his heart especially for causes that supported children. John was involved in many ways with Hospice of Health First; New Hope Children’s Wish Foundation; and Bright Star Center for grieving children. He was honored to work with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Shriver family as an original staff member for Special Olympics, including serving as a swimming and other sporting events coach. Although John never sought the spotlight for his volunteerism, he was honored as the winner of the 2004 National Jefferson Awards for the state of Florida, and volunteer of the year in 1994 for Florida Today Reaching Out Award. He was also a past matre d’ at the King Center.
The family would like to express their gratitude to those of you who reached out over the years, and the last days of his life to share with him and with us what John meant to the community and you personally. We will treasure these memories always. To us, he was our “Brother Jack” and “Uncle Jack” -always there to mentor, coach, listen, and simply, just give us unconditional love. We will love and miss you always, Jack, but know you are looking over us all.
A special thanks to recent care givers at Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, and William Childs Hospice House. We are forever grateful to special friends and his Melbourne family Angela and Grace Boyer and Monique Norsworthy.
John was proceeded in death by his parents; sister Mary (Dolly) Valjacic; and close friend Ernest Mulligan.
He is survived by his sister Janet R. Warren of Spokane, Washington; nieces Lou Ann (Bill) Montgomery (Iowa); Jackie Specht, Colleen Warren, Mary (Ron) Gubelman, Stasia (Dave Fasules) Warren (all in Washington); nephews Con Warren, Joe Warren, Ian Warren, and Mike Warren (all in Washington) John Warren (California); and numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews in Washington, Kansas, and Iowa; and cousins in Montana, California, and Alberta, Canada.
Cremation has occurred with Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at a later date at St. Aloysius Catholic Church on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of Health First in Melbourne FL; New Hope for Kids in Maitland FL; the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, FL; or any Special Olympics program.
