On October 15, 2021, A John Gironda, also known as WB6MOJ (Mounds of Joy), shut off his transceiver for the last time.

John was born in December 1925 in New Rochelle, New York (NY), the son of the late AJ (“Augy”) Gironda and late Frances Rigano Gironda. The family moved to Mamaroneck, NY, where Augy and other family built the Gironda house on Stoneybrook Avenue where it stands today. John graduated from Mamaroneck High School in NY where he lettered in track by running 100 and 220 yard races; he never lost a race throughout all of Westchester County.

His quickness and speed came in handy in WWII. Was drafted into the Army out of HS, and served in the war in Europe in the 257th Engineer Combat Battalion, where he had the opportunity to "fix bayonets." After the war, John attended Illinois Institute of Technology where he earned his BS in Chemical Engineering. He subsequently joined the Air Force where he met his future, and long-life bride, the late Rose Marie Gironda, in Newfoundland Canada. Reassignment moved them to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, Hill AFB, UT, and Los Angeles AFB, CA. At Wright-Pat, he co-authored a, then, key study for the Air Force: “A Sonic Shear Method of Determination of Shear Breakdown of Hydraulic Fluids and Lubricating Oil” in March 1955. LA AFB is where he retired as a Captain in 1968.

After the Air Force, John obtained his MS Public Administration, and worked in mutual funds, real estate, Rockwell International, and as City Administrator for the city of Villa Park, as he and Rose raised their family. John was one of the earliest adult leaders for Los Alamitos Scout Troop 300/603. Always active, he was featured on a boat manufacturer’s website for building one of their boat kits when he was almost blind from AMD.

His favorite singer was Mario Lanza. He loved to watch football, and his favorite football entity was Vince Lombardi. However, John loved his family more than anything. Once, quitting smoking cold turkey for them, never to smoke again. He was motivated to repair most anything. He could be found repairing any aspect of his vehicles or home. Once, at age 60, he installed a new roof on his home. He removed and threw down the old tiles, where Rose bundled, and then carried up the ladder all the new tiles to complete the project. That roof exists today.

He had a tremendous sense of humor. For example, he once dressed up as a nun for Halloween, then, visited his local bank to haunt the tellers. John is survived by 2 sons, 5 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

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