Everett John Mcgovern

Everett John McGovern, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on February 4, 2014. John was born September 21, 1925 in Great Barrington, MA and lived the remaining 87 years of his life in California.

Raised by his grandmother, he graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1943. He enrolled at UCLA, joined the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and pledged Alpha Sigma Phi. He met the love of his life in 1951 when his volleyball rolled across her towel at Sorrento Beach. John and Joan Junge married in 1952, and moved to Hawaii while John served on the USS Winston during the Korean War.

John worked for over 30 years as an aerospace scheduler, but his true calling was poetry. He enjoyed duplicate bridge and became a Life Master, body surfing, beach volleyball, UCLA sports and his yellow rose garden. He served as an elder at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, taught Sunday school and loved his years as a volunteer basketball coach and classroom poet.

John is survived by his loving wife Joan, daughter Blair Contratto (Anthony) of Palos Verdes Estates, son John Edward McGovern (Elizabeth) of Carpenteria and five beloved grandchildren, Alexander, Vanessa, Olivia, Miles and Ainsley. The family would like to thank all the caregivers and staff at Silverado Senior Living in Redondo Beach for their tender, loving care of John.

A celebration of John's life will be held Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 5975 Armaga Spring Road in Rancho Palos Verdes at 12:00 noon followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers the family suggests Mt. Olive Lutheran Church or The John Wooden Athletic Fund, UCLA Athletics, P.O. Box 24044, Los Angeles, CA 90024.


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275