John P. Karpinski

John P. Karpinski, 91 of Lorain, died Thursday, August 16, 2007 at the New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph following a short illness. He was born November 27, 1915 in Lorain and has been a lifelong resident. He grew up with a love for sports, and following high school was signed with the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball Team. He sacrificed this dream and enlisted in the United States Navy where he served during WWII. He served the City of Lorain as a fire fighter, retiring in 1978 after 32 years of public safety service. He was a member of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Lorain. He was instrumental in the formation of the Lorain City Little League Baseball program at Cromwell and Washington Avenue Park. In 1996 he was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame. He is survived by his sons, James of Vermilion and Robert of Lorain; 2 grandchildren; brother, Donald Karpinski of Lorain; half-brother, Albert Pikora or Colorado; half-sister, Patricia Pikora of Lorain; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded-in death by his wife, Helen (nee Dzoba) in 1991, father, William Karpinski, mother and step-father, Margaret (nee Flaczynski) Karpinski-Pikora, sister, Josephine Marks and brother, Anthony Karpinski. Friends may call Monday, August 20, 2007 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Dombrowski-Humphrey-Riddle Funeral Home, 1939 Oberlin Avenue, Lorain, Ohio. Closing prayers will be said at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 9:30 am followed by a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 418 W. 15th Street, Lorain. The Reverend Robert J. Glepko, pastor and the Reverend Theodore Marszal will con-celebrate. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.