John T. Baskin

John T. Baskin, 78, of Selinsgrove left this world peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, at Geisinger Medical Center.

He was born Feb. 17, 1937 in Hazleton, PA, the son of Gladys (Tressler) and Morton Baskin. The family moved to Selinsgrove in 1951.  John was a 1955 graduate of Selinsgrove High School, and a 1959 graduate of Susquehanna University.  Following graduation he worked for a year as an engineer at ACF in Berwick, PA; he then earned an M.S. in mathematics at Penn State in 1962. He taught math at the State University College at Brockport, NY for a year; he then joined the faculty at the State University College at Oneonta, NY, where he taught over a period of 32 years, 6 of them as Chairman of the Math Dept., retiring in 1995. During that time he earned a Ph.D. in math education at the University of Maryland, and taught for a year at Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN.

John is survived by Rosemary (Parisella), his wife of 51 years; two sons and one daughter-in-law: William, of Syracuse, NY, and Walter & Kim, of Oneonta, NY. William has one daughter, Emily Anhe; Walter and his wife Kimberley (Pirone) have two daughters, Hannah Rose and Sadie Claire, and one son, Samuel John; one sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Michael Kobus, of Lewisburg. He was predeceased by his parents and by his brother Morton, Jr.

John wanted to include this message: “In our early years I considered Sally to be my pesky little sister. In our later years I came to realize how lucky I was to have such a pest. Sally and Mike did and do many family things in which I should have participated, but wasn’t physically able to, and I thank them. One non-relative who played a big part in my life is Barry “Buzz” Siegfried. We met in 9th grade, he was the best man at my wedding, and he has held that position ever since. During my life I did many dumb things, but a few smart ones too. The smartest thing I ever did was to ask Rosemary Parisella to marry me. Since June 1964 she has been both my wife and my best friend. I thought I had peaked, but it got even better. I had two sons, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren, all of whom make me very proud. I think my descendants will allow me to believe that I left the world a little better place for having been here. Everyone should be so lucky.”

At John’s request there will be no calling hours or funeral. Interment of his cremains will be at Union Cemetery in Conyngham, PA at the family’s convenience.

It is suggested that anyone wishing to make a memorial donation consider The American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, or a local animal rescue group such as SUN Pets, Mostly Mutts, or a charity of one's choice.

The family is being assisted by the Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. Louis Streets, Lewisburg.