Obituary of John Andrew Sprecher

John Andrew Sprecher, loving husband, father and family patriarch, passed away peacefully in Walnut Creek the morning of Friday, January 15 at the age of 84. At the time of his death he was surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Michaelin; two sons, Arthur (Julia) and Michael (Candace); five grandchildren, Jason (Gwendolyn), Jacob, Matthew (Anna), Rachael (Austin) and Bridget; two great grandchildren, Liam and Callie; one brother, William (Kari); two sisters, Connie and Anne (John), and many nieces and nephews. Born December 7, 1931 in Paris, France, Dad grew up traveling the world with his parents, Marc and Gladys Sprecher, living in France, Holland, Switzerland, Algeria, Venezuela and Haiti, before eventually settling in the States in Newark, Delaware. As a teen he attended the Manlius School, a military academy near Syracuse, NY, which, in addition to his father being a veteran of WWI, helped foster a lifelong respect for the men and women of our armed services. While attending the University of Delaware Dad met the love of his life, "Mickey," at a YWCA dance in 1949 and was instantly smitten. He graduated at age 20 with a degree in chemical engineering, and was a member of the Blue Hens' wrestling team as well as an amateur pool champion. Dad and mom were married in 1953 and moved to Houston, TX, where he started his 33-year career with Shell Oil that took the family from Houston, to New Jersey, to California. Once in California, dad was "home," declining promotions that required transfers. Dad's interests were many: He was an avid sports fan, particularly of baseball, golf, and thoroughbred horseracing. He loved coaching baseball for and with his sons and grandchildren. He was an enthusiastic, savvy investor, and a daily reader of the Wall Street Journal. He instilled a strong work and financial-planning ethic in the family. He was a dog lover, was a great conversationalist and was exceedingly quotable. He loved razzleberry pie, breakfast at Emil Villa's, Starbuck's coffee, the public library, and the chance to exchange "useless factoids" with anyone who would listen. Dad enjoyed a long and active retirement that included sitting on the board of Sunrise House, which provided alcohol and drug addiction rehabilitation services. He was instrumental in helping establish the Shell Oil Alumni Association of Martinez, and sat on the their alumni college scholarship committee which provides higher education opportunities to motivated high school students in need of financial assistance. Dad was the rock of the family, the one that everyone turned to for support, advice, or maybe just a heartfelt pat on the back. His love of family and friends was surpassed only by the love he received in return. He will be greatly missed and long remembered by all who knew him. A private service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the Shell Alumni Scholarship Fund @ Shell Alumni, PO Box 1093, Martinez, CA 94553.