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| In Memory of Our Friend Mr. John Royko, who passed away on Monday, February 3rd, 2003. |
| Man gave TLC to Little League park John Royko, 79, loved youth sports BY RION A. SCOTT Press & Sun-Bulletin , Binghamton, NY Wednesday, February 5, 2003 VESTAL -- At 7 a.m. some days, before anybody else was at Angelo Field, John Royko would be out tending the grounds so the Vestal Little League would have a nice place to play. Mr. Royko, 79, died Sunday night from a lung ailment. Family members and Little League supporters who worked with Mr. Royko said they will remember him as a man who put everything he had into making sure the young athletes had a well-maintained field. He did it because of his love for youth sports, friends said. Even when breathing became a chore, Mr. Royko took care of the field, which is between the Clayton Avenue Elementary School and the Vestal Parkway. "He'd work until he couldn't breathe," said his wife, Anna Royko. "He'd come home and get oxygen and go back out." Funeral services for Mr. Royko will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Ernest H. Parsons Funeral Home, 71 Main St., Binghamton, and at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church. Burial will be in Holy Spirit Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mr. Royko was involved in Vestal's Little League program since it began in 1951. He worked as groundskeeper since the mid-1980s, when he retired from IBM Corp. Each baseball season, Anna Royko said, she would tell her husband that he should give up his groundskeeping duties. He was growing old, so he should relax and enjoy himself, she would say. Mr. Royko would reply that he was enjoying himself. He took care of the fields until October, when it became too physically difficult, Anna Royko said. He didn't want to stop until he knew there would be someone to take just as good care of the field, said Gary Cook, the person in charge of grounds and equipment for the Vestal Little League. Mr. Royko was a paratrooper in World War II, when he began corresponding with Anna Miller, who would become his wife. The two had grown up in neighboring Pennsylvania communities. His family moved to Binghamton, but the families stayed in touch. Anna Miller sent Mr. Royko a letter when he was overseas, and the two soon decided they were meant for each other, she said. Eventually, they married and had five children. Paul Zurawel, president of the Vestal Little League, said Mr. Royko was particular about the field and vocal when he didn't agree with a decision he thought would be harmful to it. When the league wanted to start games in late April, Mr. Royko thought it was too early for the field and let his feelings be known, Zurawel said. "It's going to take several people to make up what John did for us," Zurawel said. |
| John Royko of Vestal Obituary as printed in the Press & Sun-Bulletin on 2/4/03 John Royko, 79, of Vestal, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Monday, February 3, 2003. He was born in Beaverdale, Pa., son of the late John and Anna (Trushko) Royko. He moved to Binghamton's First Ward in the 1930's. He was predeceased by two sisters, Helen Royko and Mary Pechanek. He is survived by his loving and adoring wife of 54 years, Anna (Miller) Royko; beloved children, Eileen and Daniel Jones, Charlotte, N.C., Rita Wells and fiance, Steve, Stuyvesant, John A. Royko, Belmont, N.C., Robert Royko and Denise Royko, both of Binghamton; three grandchildren, Brian and his wife, Jenny Jones, Charlotte, N.C., Kevin Jones, Charlotte, N.C., and Roberts Wells, Stuyvesant. Also surviving is his sister, Anna Stefanski; and brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Hedy Royko; brothers and sisters-in-law; many nieces; nephews and good friends. He retired in 1984 from IBM after 38 years of service and was a member of its Quarter Century Club. John proudly served with the Screaming Eagles 101st Airborne in WWII, 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion and was presented with the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and several other awards. He was a life member of the American Legion Post #0573, Dunlo, Pa.; the Russian Club, Endicott; and Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church, Binghamton. John was an expert woodworker/ craftsman; he played Santa Claus at the Vestal Plaza in the early 1990's; and was active in youth sports in Broome County since 1946 including Pee Wee Football and IBM Basketball. John's pride and joy was the Vestal Little League in which he played many different roles since its inception in 1951. He will be fondly remembered for the past 18 years as the Head Groundskeeper. Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. from the Ernest H. Parsons Funeral Home, Inc., 71 Main Street, Binghamton and at 10 a.m. at Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church where the Rev. George Sandor will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Burial will be in Holy Spirit Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Wednesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Father George will conduct Parastas at 4:30 p.m. Due to allergies, the family requests no flowers, instead memorial contributions in John's memory may be made to a charity of ones choice or to the Holy Spirit Building Fund. |
| John Royko Groundskeeper & Friend of the Vestal Little League'ers |
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| John Royko with his 1972 LaZenka Jewelers East Major League Team. |
| Front L-R: Ed DePoffe,Jim Hill,Dave Evancho,Tim Kane,Bob Royko,Kevin O'Hara,Mark Evancho. Back L-R: Manager John Royko, Ron Kurtz,Chris McCarthy,John Munk,Bill Preisendenz,Kent Foster,Jim Opie,John Carlucci, Coach John Royko.(John's son) |
| VLL HOMEPAGE |
| Mom & Pop Angelo |
| 7th Inning Stretch |
| Vestal Little League History Website |
| I remember John from my own playing days in the Vestal Little League, back in the early 70's. I did not play for him, but I remember him coaching the LaZenka team. Years later I got to know him much better as I managed a team and served as a board member for the Little League for several years in the mid 80's to early 90's. John would be at the field every day it seemed. There were many days that I spent with a rake or shovel in my hand, grooming the field since my team had a game that evening. I would chit chat with John for hours. When I first started coaching, I remember that it was John who gave me any advice I asked for. His best advice, was the simplest.....Make it fun for the kids. He strongly believed in that I know. I also remember how much he cared for the field....like a gardener cares for his garden. Angelo Field didn't just have a groundskeeper in John Royko....it had a manicurist ! The grass was always green and mowed. The basepaths were always crowned just right. It was always PERFECT. All done just so the kids in Vestal had a top rate place to play. Now that he has passed on, the VLL has lost the last of the "old-timers"...those who grew up with the league since the earliest days. But, I think his passing was nothing more than a promotion.....to the head groundskeeper in heavens little league ballfield. I can see him now, with a rake and shovel in his hands, telling the Good Lord how it should be done.....and the Good Lord listening , for he knows there was no one better at it or who cared so much about it. Ron Ohnmacht |
| Special Thanks to the Press & Sun Bulletin in Vestal, NY ,for granting permisssion to publish on this website, the following articles which appeared in their newspaper. |
| If you have a memory or story to share of Mr. Royko, I would be glad to hear from you and post your message; Email me |
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