John Havran

John Havran, age 95, passed away peacefully, at home, in Raritan Township NJ on Saturday, September 1, 2018. He was born September 23, 1922, in Passaic NJ, as the son of Samuel and Tatiana (Kovalcik) Havran. John joined the United States Navy in 1943. He attended training in Newport, Rhode Island along the banks of the Narragansett Bay. Farther north on the bay, in a town called Melville, the Navy was training recruits to serve on the fast and nimble PT Boats. Fresh recruits, like John, would often see these 80 foot, 50 tons of fighting fury roaring past. As the story goes, many a young man, John included, would ask about those boats. For many of these young men, that simple curiosity would set in motion the events to shape their WWII service. Those who joined the brotherhood of PT Boat Squadron members would serve around the globe from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to Europe, the Mediterranean and the South Pacific. John served as a Gunners Mate 3rd class in the South Pacific between front line bases around New Guinea, Bouganville, Solomon Islands, Morati, Wendi. The men of the PT Boats performed reconnaissance, insurgent and night time raids to disrupt enemy supply lines. For their relatively small size, the PT Boats were proportionately the most heavily armed vessels in the Navy arsenal and although their boats were made predominately of mahogany laminates, it was their willingness to take on missions requiring in-close contact with the enemy that earned them the distinction of being “expendable” and the title “Mosquito Fleet” known by the enemy for their potent sting. Post War, John attended and graduated from Rider College, where he met his wife, Doris Becroft. John and Doris were married in January 1950 and raised three children in central New Jersey. They have been Hunterdon County residents for more than 35 years. John retired from American Mutual Insurance Company after more than 30 years and continued his career another 25 years by joining three former colleagues in an insurance agency partnership later to become The Havran Insurance Agency in Dunellen NJ. He enjoyed developing relationships with his customers, often times retaining several succeeding generations of his original clients. He was an honest, hardworking family man. During his retirement years, John continued to serve, volunteering his insurance knowledge providing advice to local citizens at the Hunterdon County Department of Human Services, Division of Senior, Disabilities and Veterans services. John loved his family most of all; was a lifetime NY Yankees fan and enjoyed the sounds of Big Band music. He was predeceased by his three sisters, Mary Fedor, Anne Zabrieskie, Olga Stavis, and his brother, Michael Havran. He is survived by his beloved wife, Doris, his two sons and their spouses, Gary John and Cynthia Havran of Burke VA, and Joel John and Lori Havran of Waynesboro VA, and his daughter, Ann Doris Havran of Dunellen NJ. Visitation will be held between 10:00 am until 12:00 noon on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington NJ 08822. A funeral service officiated by the Rev. Mark R. Summer will be Thursday at 12:00 noon at the funeral home. Interment will follow in New Germantown Cemetery, Oldwick NJ, not far from the Zion Oldwick Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made in John’s name can be directed to either Hunterdon Medical Center Hospice Program, 215 Route 31 South, Flemington NJ 08822 or the Flemington Area Food Pantry, PO Box 783, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.