John W. Lucid, 85, a long time Staten Island resident passed peacefully Thursday at his home in Manchester, NJ. Born and raised in Brooklyn, John graduated from New Utrecht High School and attended Brooklyn College. As a young man he was a highly sought after fast-pitch softball pitcher where he would be paid by local organizers when money was routinely wagered on the outcome of the game.
He also had a tryout as a catcher for the St. Louis Browns. After high school he enlisted in the Air Force where he trained to be an air traffic controller. His career was cut short by the sudden death of his mother.
He received an honorable discharge and returned to Brooklyn to look after his father and raise his two much younger siblings. He met, married and was dedicated to Eleanor Lucid to whom he was married to for almost 60 years until her passing in 2016. For approximately 40 years he was a member of the Amalgamated Lithographers Union Local 101 in NYC, rising to the most senior rank of first pressman.
He printed magazines, newspapers, and the coupons most of us have seen and used in the Sunday papers. After his retirement in 2007 he embarked on a second career in the administrative department of New York Law School in downtown Manhattan, where he proctored exams and thoroughly enjoyed joking with and getting to know the law students. He was an avid runner and a daily fixture at the YMCA in Eltingville where he was a member for decades.
In addition, he enjoyed photography, especially at sporting events. He moved to Staten Island from Brooklyn with his wife and new born first son in 1965 and settled in Huguenot Park. He was a communicant at Our Lady Star of the Sea, where he founded the first teen club program in the late 1960s and served as an usher for many years.
He was dedicated to his wife Eleanor. They enjoyed traveling often taking trips to upstate New York or Canada, a cruise or trips to Florida. He was a dedicated and loving grandfather and he took great pride and joy in them and spending time with them.
He was pre-deceased by his wife Eleanor and brother Joe and sister-in-law Eileen. He is survived by his sister Teresa, her husband Ray, his sister-in-law Nancy, as well as, his sons John Charles and Jerry and his three grandchildren John Samuel, Conor and Erin. The family will receive friends from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. on Monday at the John Vincent Scalia Home For Funerals, Inc., 28 Eltingville Blvd.
(at Eltingville Station), Staten Island, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church located at 5411 Amboy Road Staten Island, New York 10312. A private cremation will follow.
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