John Paolino

John Paolino died on Sunday, April 3, 2022. It was a beautiful Sunday morning when John took his last breath at home. John was born on April 23, 1951, in Hobbs, New Mexico to John Paolino, Sr. and Billie Mae Walker. John always said that Hobbs was a great place to grow up. He knew that he always had to toe the line because in a small town like Hobbs, word quickly got back to his parents if he was misbehaving and there would be consequences. After graduation from Hobbs High School in 1969 John attended New Mexico Junior College for two years before transferring to Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM. Following graduation from ENMU John moved to Albuquerque and then Navajo, NM where he lived and worked on the reservation. Shortly after returning to Albuquerque in 1978, he met his future wife, Cathy. Cathy always joked that they met at an Italian restaurant (Pizza Hut) where she was working, and John happened to come in after a soccer game. Everyone who knew John knew that he was particularly proud of his Italian name and heritage. Shortly after meeting Cathy he mentioned that he had always wanted to go to Italy. Cathy told him all you need is a passport. John soon got his passport and in 1980 he and Cathy made their first trip to Europe and Italy where he found and reconnected with family there. It was during this first trip where at an audience with Pope John Paul II that John shook hands with the Pope, a real highlight in his life. John's father had a sister in Italy whom he had never met. She expressed to John that her dream was to meet at least one of her five brothers from America. John made her dream come true when he took his parents to Italy in 1982. John and Cathy shared a love of travel and spent their years together travelling throughout the United States as well as abroad.

John was a sports enthusiast. He always said he felt fortunate to have attended the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles with his dad and the 1992 World Cup, also in Los Angeles with Cathy. He was a Pittsburgh fan through and through, whether it was rooting for the Steelers, the Penguins, or the Pirates. While visiting Pittsburgh his cousin Timmy often got him hard to find tickets to games. John enjoyed playing soccer in his younger days and bocce later. He also enjoyed hunting, camping, and fishing. Later one of his favorite outings was fungi (mushroom) hunting in the mountains with his dear friends, Giuseppe Matonti, and Pete Bachechi and of course, Cathy.

John worked for the FAA as a Health and Safety professional from 1997 until his retirement in 2013. Throughout his career John always strove to do his best. John enjoyed his work and lived by the motto, "Exceed their expectations." Although John travelled extensively through his work, it was the lure of more travel and spending more time with Cathy that convinced him to retire.

John is survived by his wife of 34 years, Cathy; his sister Ramona Parker; nephews Chris Meloy (Allison), Jeff Meloy (Marty); cousin Timothy Paolino (Dee); sister-in-law Debbie Garcia (Dante); brothers-in-law Michael Casaus (Terri), Gilbert Casaus (Kimberly), Matthew Casaus (Anna), William Casaus (Debbie) and Andrew Casaus.

Family and friends can visit from 3-5:00pm on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at FRENCH-Wyoming. Mass will take place at 10:00am on Monday, April 11, 2022, at Our Lady of the Annunciation. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chris Meloy, Andrew Casaus, Tom Vosburgh, Jerome Aguilar, Dante Garcia, Dan Puccetti.