Obituary of John V Urbaitis Jr.

John V. Urbaitis, Jr.

Obituary

Our dear father, John V. Urbaitis, Jr., age 88, of Ladson, South Carolina, passed away April 11, 2021 after a long illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, John V. Urbaitis, Sr. and Florence (Urbaitis) Gagnon and her husband Wilfred, as well as his brother, Victor Urbaitis. John is survived by his devoted wife, Catherine, and loving children, Grace (John) Trinkl of North Charleston, SC, Michael (Kristi Slotemaker) of Houston, TX and Tacoma, WA, Vincent (Barbara) of Pembroke, MA, William (Heather) of Charlotte, NC and Joseph (Amy Trimble) of Moline, IL. He is also celebrated in love by his grandchildren, Suzanne and Sara Trinkl of San Antonio, TX, Ian (Ashley) Urbaitis of Durham, NC and Shani Urbaitis (Zach) of Mint Hill, NC, Katee (Ben) Stanley of LeClair, IA and Colton Urbaitis of Ames, IA, and Kelli Urbaitis of Pembroke, MA as well as many nieces and nephews.

John served two years in the US Army at the conclusion of the Korean War, working in foreign intelligence. John earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, majoring in political science. After marrying and starting their family in Washington, DC, the family relocated to Massachusetts, where John worked at John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company in Boston for 27 years, rising to the position of Director of Claims, Policy and Research. In addition, John served with numerous insurance associations and collaborated on writing a textbook for the insurance industry.

John and our mother Cay raised our family for 19 years in Rockland, Massachusetts and lived another 30 years in Weymouth, Massachusetts before moving to the Charleston area in 2013. John loved supporting his children’s athletic and musical performances through the years, taking a good road trip, reading his many historical and philosophical books, drinking a venti dark roast coffee every day at Starbucks, mastering Sudoku and crossword puzzles, and sharing TV with our mother as they enjoyed favorite movies and shows, BBC programs and just about anything on PBS. We, his children and grandchildren, especially enjoyed the many celebrations with, and of, our dear Papa over the years.

The family is grateful for John’s care by his various medical providers and by the staff at Life Care Center in North Charleston.

Due to COVID-19, our family will celebrate John's life privately.