John "Jack" T. Madden

John (Jack) Madden was born on January 26, 1935 in Girard, Ohio, the only son of Lucy
Mae (Bentley) and John (Jack) Madden. He lived in Girard and attended St. Rose
Elementary and Girard High School. His father’s job, assembling and installing heavy
industrial machinery, led the family to live in several places, including- California,France, England and Italy. He graduated from the Overseas School of Rome in 1952. He enrolled in Youngstown College that same year but dropped out early in his second semester, to enlist in the army. He served for three years, mostly in Austria, where he
acquired his love of classical music. Returning to civilian life, he attended Youngstown University and graduated in 1960. He received a master’s degree from Kent State
University in 1974.

John had the very good fortune to marry Theresa “Terri" Bendik in 1957. They had three children, Jack 1959 (Brenda), Michele 1963 and Mark 1965 (Rita), who gave them four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom survive him. Terri preceded him across the great divide in 2019, as did his parents some years earlier.

John was not an outstanding student and was known in his high school years, to be a
rather mouthy and difficult student. Pay back comes in many forms and for him it came
(with no plans on his part) in the shape of a teaching career. John considered himself to
be living proof that God has a keen and ironic sense of humor. He was fortunate- by his
third day in front of a class he knew that he was home. In his third year he began
teaching Industrial Arts, (aka Shop) and considered it a wonderful gift that he enjoyed for over thirty years. He retired in 1985 after teaching in the Maplewood, Lordstown and
Liberty school systems. He said that he relished teaching twenty days for every one that
he regretted.

To all his family, friends and students, to the Ironic Sense of Humor on High and
especially to Terri – THANK YOU! It was a great run!

Calling hours will be held on Thursday December 22nd from 4:00-6:00 PM with a memorial service at 6:00PM at Blackstone Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Emmanuel House Care Center or St. Rose School.