John Pavalasky Obituary (1941 – 2022) – Sacramento, CA

John Joseph Pavalasky
August 22, 1941 – July 19, 2022
Sacramento, California – John J. Pavalasky was born August 22, 1941 in Delcarbon, Huerfano, CO, a Calumet Fuel Company town to which his grandfather immigrated from Poland in the 1920’s as a coal miner. His parents, John Tony and Ione Edith Pavalasky, moved their family to Pueblo, CO where John attended Centennial High School and played varsity football. Shortly after graduating in 1959, he was enlisted in the Air Force. While stationed at Hamilton AFB, CA he fell in love with his future wife, Katie, who was also stationed there. John was deployed to Turkey, while Katie to the other end of the world. They thought they’d never see each other again. Both were honorably discharged, miraculously reunited, and were married in San Francisco, CA in 1966.
John and Katie moved to Sacramento, CA in 1967, and John began working for the State of California – Franchise Tax Board, while earning his BS in Accounting from California State University – Sacramento and raising four daughters. John spent nearly 50 years at FTB as a legislative analyst and federal tax conformity specialist, and appeared before the Legislature regularly. He was held in highest esteem for his depth of knowledge and ability to explain difficult concepts in simple terms.
John and Katie shared a passion for philately since childhood, and joined the Sacramento Philatelic Society in 1969. John was editor of The Prospector for many years, the trading circuit’s buyer, served on the SPS Board, and was its Treasurer for over 20 years.
John was an avid reader, he could not pass up a used bookstore! A lively conversationalist, he knew something about everything, and a lot about computers. He adored our national parks, especially Yosemite, and became an avian photographer. He loved movies and often quoted his favorite line as, “One ping only, Vasily!”
John is warmly remembered for his big smile and hearty laugh, deep humility and stoicism, honesty and integrity, keen mind and intense curiosity, dry and punny humor and most of all, his endless devotion to his wife, Katie, for 56 years. He was Mickey to her Minnie.
John is preceded by his parents and sister, Louise Freeark of Pueblo, CO. John is survived by his loving wife, Katie; four daughters: Christine, Suzanne, Kathy and Mary; seven grandchildren: Daniel, Laura, Caleb, Andrew, Joshua, Noelle, and Peter; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on August 29, 2022 at 2:30 pm. Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Sacramento Philatelic Society, PO Box 13284, Sacramento, CA 95813.

Published by The Sacramento Bee on Aug. 21, 2022.

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