JOHN C. FISTERE, JR., 1935 - 2024, ACCOMPLISHED ENGINEER AND HUMANITARIAN, DIES AT 89
By The Fistere FamilyJuly 28, 2024 (San Diego) -- John C. Fistere Jr. (1935 - 2024), accomplished engineer and dedicated humanitarian, died at home last week on Friday 26 July 2024, at the age of 89, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
A long-time resident of La Mesa and frequent news broadcaster on the East County Magazine Radio Show, he was known for his cheerful and positive demeanor, and he left a lasting impact in his community and fields of interest.
John was born and raised in New York City, and is a graduate of Forest Hills High School, Yale University (class of 1957, BE/ME Mechanical Engineering, Tau Beta Pi), and the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. His career in engineering spanned 40 years, beginning with Westinghouse Electric Corp in 1957, and later with Solar Turbines Incorporated until his retirement in 1997. He was in the US Navy briefly under a program for engineers at Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Chicago.
Throughout his life, John was actively involved in organizations and projects that enriched the lives of others. He fulfilled a lifelong dream when he joined Rotary Club of La Mesa (District 5340), where he served as the President for 2006-2007. Together with Dr Israel Barkin, John founded the Prostate Cancer Research and Education Foundation (PC-REF) and he served as the first Executive Director. He wrote and published the MultiGraph software program to help prostate cancer survivors track their test results.
John shared a love of music and singing with his beloved wife, Teresa Farr. They sang together at San Diego Festival Chorus and Unity San Diego, and he served as President of both organizations. He also sang and performed for many years with Foothills United Methodist Church.John's passion for science and education was evident through his founding of the East County Physics Meetup, now called the San Diego Science and Technology Meetup, where he fostered a community of like-minded science enthusiasts. For more than 30 years, he read the newspaper to the blind with the KPBS Radio Reading Service and was a regular contributor freading news stories for the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ. He also served on the board of East County Media, supporting local journalism and community engagement.
ECM Editor Miriam Raftery states, "John's contributions were deeply appreciated and he will be greatly missed by all of us at East County Magazine."
It was also a source of great pride when his wit and creativity were recognized by The New Yorker magazine, which selected his caption for cartoon #625.
John had a zest for life and traveled extensively. He lived for many years in La Mesa, near San Diego, California, and spent summers with Teresa at her family's retreat at Holiday Park, Utah. In 2019, he moved to La Vida Del Mar in Solana Beach, where he continued to inspire those around him with his positive outlook on life.
John is survived by his daughters Jennifer and Jessica, his first wife Jane, his stepdaughter Leslie, his grandchild Valerie, his great-grandchildren Josie and Jasper, and his stepsister Susan. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 29 years, Teresa.A memorial service will be held at Unity San Diego, 3770 Altadena Ave in San Diego, on Sunday 6 October 2024. His online memorial is at WeRemember.com.
John C. Fistere Jr.'s legacy of kindness, enthusiasm, and dedication to his family and community will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him. His bright spirit and unwavering positivity have left an indelible mark on the hearts of many.