John A. Savage

John A. Savage, 93, of Shepherdstown, passed away at Winchester Medical Center on Dec. 26, 2014, in the presence of his family.

Born Jan. 15, 1921, in Utica, New York, he was the son of the late John Orville Savage and Cora Rossiter.

He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Victoria Savage, of Shepherdstown. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Savage MacDonald and her husband, Randolph (Randy), of Shepherdstown; a daughter, Janet A. Savage and her husband, Edward J. Godin, of Centennial, Colo.; son, Robert J. Savage and his wife, Ann, of Shepherdstown; and grandchildren, Caitlin (McIntyre) Gosnell and husband, Brandon; Jessica, John and Daniel Godin; and Caroline and William Savage.

During World War II, he served as a radio operator in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Mr. Savage attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he received the A.B. degree and the A.M.L.S. degree in 1950 and 1951, respectively.

He worked as a librarian at Cornell University Library in Ithaca, New York, the Levittown (New York) Public Schools and as the Director of the North Babylon Public Library from 1965 until his retirement in 1988.

In his 50s and 60s, he was an avid marathoner and completed 18 marathons, including the New York Marathon, the Boston Marathon and the Venice (Italy) Marathon. He also spent many summers bicycle touring Europe with his wife, and riding the back roads of the Northeast and the mountain passes of Colorado with his family.

He was a voracious reader with a keen interest in political and social history. He was also an avid photographer and took many beautiful pictures of his travels and family. He also had a passionate interest in genealogy.

He was unfailingly generous to all those with whom he came into contact, and was a champion of the underdog.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shepherdstown Public Library Expansion Project, P.O. Box 278, Shepherdstown, WV 25443.

Arrangements by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.

Please sign the online guestbook and view his obituary at www.mtstrider.com.