John E. Ricca (94) of Landsdale, Pennsylvania (formally living for 48 years in his beloved home in Buckingham, PA) passed away on January 26, 2023, surrounded by his family.
Born on May 30, 1928 in Philadelphia PA., he was the son of the late John Joseph and Gertrude (Crossin) Ricca. He graduated from Northeast High School and proudly served his country, achieving the rank of sergeant in the United States Marine Corp. After graduating from Drexel University in Philadelphia, John worked at Reaction Motors in New Jersey where he designed and helped build the first throttleable rocket engine that powered the X-15 supersonic aircraft. The monumental X-15 rocket engine is showcased in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC. He later worked at General Electric where he was the chief aeronautical engineer for the Space Reentry program and satellite operations.
John married the love of his life, Alicemarie Audet in 1952. They were married for 56 years and John lovingly cared for his wife until she passed away in 2008. They had five children, Alice George (Bill), John J. Ricca (LeeAnne), Joanne M. Spino (Brian), Diane Ricca Hinkle (John), Therese (Sam) Grimm (Clyde). John loved his 17 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren very much and was a wonderful Pop Pop and Pop Pop Pop.
John loved aeronautics and flying. He designed, built and flew his own airplane and enjoyed building and flying RC model airplanes in his later life. John was an avid fan of 1930'3 jazz music. John loved the beach and ocean, spending many summer weeks making memories at the beaches of New Jersey and North Carolina.
John’s Funeral Service will be held on Saturday February 4, 2023, at 10:00am at the Shelly Funeral Home 1460 Easton Road, Warrington, PA . The family will receive friends from 9:00am until the time of the service. Internment will follow at Doylestown Cemetery
Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital of Memphis, TN (stjude.org)
To send condolences to the family, please visit the funeral home website below.
Shelly Funeral Home, Warrington.
www.shellyfuneralhomes.com