John Satmar

John Satmar, age 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Arlington Heights, IL on Saturday February 5, 2022.

John was born in Dej, Romania on February 18th, 1931. Deaf since early childhood, John was a member of various organizations and clubs for the Deaf, both in the U.S. as well as in Romania. He was a tailor from 1950 until retiring as a master tailor in 1997. His first employment was as an apprentice tailor at state owned clothing factory Flacara (The Flame) in Romania. He was employed at Mosenfelder and Sons in Rock Island, IL where he was highly valued for his craftsmanship. His last employer was C&R Clothiers in Los Angeles, CA. In 1973, although totally deaf, he took the difficult step of defecting from then communist Romania to Italy. Then, two years later, he arrived in the U.S. After a significant legal and political effort, he was able to bring the rest of his family to the U.S. in 1977. We, his family, are forever grateful for his courage and persistence in achieving this. He has always had an adventurous spirit and has travelled far and wide, in the Americas, Asia (as far as Japan), Australia, Europe and many places in between, as well as throughout much of the U.S. Wherever he found himself, he was always quick to make life-long friendships. He has also picked up many skills along the way, from furniture making (he even made his own couches) to car body repair. We will forever miss his ability to make us smile and laugh, his easy-going ability to take anything that life threw at him.

John is survived by his wife, Constanta Satmar; children, Angela Letona, Adriana Marinescu, and Horace Satmar; grandchildren, Stephanie Monica Carvajal, Mark Anthony Letona, Kris Marinescu, and Melissa Satmar; great-grandchildren, Isabelle Kristina Carvajal, Gabriela Sophia Carvajal, Aleistar Anthony Letona, Maritza Eileen Letona, Mark Josiah Letona.

A visitation for John will be from 4pm until 8pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 941 S. Old Rand Rd., Lake Zurich, IL 60047. A funeral service will be held privately on a later date for members of the family.

In lieu of flowers, St. Francis Borgia Deaf Center - part of the Catholic Office of the Deaf (https://deafchurchchicago.weconnect.com/)