Obituary of John R. Tuite

Lt. Colonel John R. Tuite, USAF (Ret) passed away on the night of February 17, 2017 at his home in Melbourne, Florida surrounded by his wife Marianna of 57 years and their children. He was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, on July 18, 1936 to Catherine and Edward Tuite. Lt. Colonel Tuite was preceded in death by his parents, along with his brothers Edward, James, and George. He is survived by his wife Marianna; their six children – John Jr. (Faith), Edward (Roxanne), Melissa, Rebecca (Gil), Matthew (Tonya) and Benjamin (Jennifer); eleven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Lt. Colonel Tuite graduated from Fordham University in 1959 with a Master’s Degree in Russian and Russian Area Studies and served proudly for 28 years in the United States Air Force. He spent the first half of his career in the Air Force as a radar navigator on B-52's and the latter half in military intelligence. After retirement, Lt. Colonel Tuite and his wife Marianna were committed to making a difference in the lives of others. He and his wife served as foster parents in Waynesville, North Carolina to many special needs children. He considered the differences they made in the lives of these children to be his proudest achievement. During this time, he returned to school at Western Carolina University and earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics. In 2001, he and Marianna relocated to Melbourne, Florida. He was a volunteer at the Ascension Thrift Shop and a member of Saint George’s Catholic Community at Patrick AFB. The funeral service will be held at 0930 hours on Friday, February 24, 2017 at South Patrick AFB Chapel, 854 Harrier Ave, Satellite Beach, FL. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make donations in John Tuite+óGé¼Gäós name to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides comfort homes for families receiving care at major military and VA medical facilities or to St. Jude Children+óGé¼Gäós Research Hospital.