Date of death: 2/18/2007

Saint Meinrad Class: O 1944

Mr. Dillon, age 88, of Toledo, OH, died of complications from a stroke.Born on June 12, 1918, in Tiffin, OH to parents, Warren P. and Caroline J. Dillon, he soon settled in Toledo by way of Fostoria. John served in the Army during WWII on Ascension Island in the S. Atlantic and Rio de Janeiro. Afterward, married and starting a family, he honed his entrepreneurial skills by opening a series of retail stores, both in Trilby and Maumee. Real estate, outside sales and patenting various inventions filled his “spare time” all the while finding his true calling in teaching. John retired from the Toledo Public Schools in 1982 after having taught at Libbey High School for 26 years. Many of his students still remember learning everything from Latin to Honors English from this gifted teacher, and impromptu conversations with these former students were never out of the norm. Retirement gave John the time he needed to volunteer for nearly 2 decades at the Bay View Retirees Golf Course, planting trees, landscaping and keeping the course watered and green. Education was a mainstay in John’s life. He graduated (as senior class president) from Central Catholic HS ’36, and DiLasalle College, with a stint in Saint Meinrad Seminary, IN for 1 year in between. One of his proudest feats was earning two masters degrees in education from the University of Toledo in ’73 and ’74.Strength and compassion” are words used to describe John, and were never more evident than when, at age 87, he offered a ride and money to a destitute pan-handler. A switchblade was pulled and John was robbed of his wallet, but held onto his cash. He later was called to testify and boldly marched into court to ensure that this thief threatened no one else. John is survived by his loving children, Patrick, Daria (Bill Hellebuyck), Caroline and David; and grandchildren, Cheryl Henry (Ryan) and David Hellebuyck (Heather). John Dillon was buried at Calvary Cemetery. Share memories at obit.desmondfuneralhome.com Published in the Toledo Blade from 2/28/2007 – 3/2/2007.