John Helmick - Obituary

he Honorable John David Helmick, 82, of Heritage Harbour in Annapolis, MD and formerly of Mt. Savage, MD, passed away on August 28, 2010 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a prolonged illness. Born in Mannington, WV on November 22, 1927 he graduated from Mannington High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy during W.W. II and served aboard the U.S.S. Rockwall, which was an observer ship at the Bikini Atoll atomic blast in the South Pacific. After the Navy, he received his undergraduate degree from Fairmount State College in WV and his Master’s degree from West Virginia University. Beginning his teaching career in West Virginia, he continued as an Industrial Arts teacher at Mount Savage High School for over 30 yrs. until his retirement to Heritage Harbour in Annapolis, where he enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He has won medals in both tennis and volleyball at the Senior Olympics. Both he and his wife enjoy boating on the waters around Annapolis. He had belonged to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary where he performed search and rescues in our local waters. He and his wife also sponsored several midshipmen from the US Naval Academy. John loved to ride his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, which he rode across county from Maryland to California and back in 2002. He would enjoy participating in the weekly Pete’s Cycle Club rides with other members of the club. Visiting Camp Sunrise, a place for children recovering from cancer, on one of these rides was a particular delight to him. While in Mount Savage, he was appointed by the then Maryland Governor Spiro T. Agnew to the position of a Maryland Trial Magistrate. He was also involved in the community as a Pony League Manager and Coach and a Volunteer Firefighter. Active in politics won him many accolades from both political parties. He was an avid union activist, serving as president of the Allegany County Teachers Association and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland State Teachers Association for two full terms. He helped negotiate teachers’ contracts and fought for teachers’ professional rights. He is survived by his wife Rosalind Yee Helmick, whom he married in 1988, and his three children: John Helmick and partner Jane Gibson of Oakland, Maryland, Ronald Helmick and wife Sharon of Centerville, Pennsylvania; Rebecca Watkins and husband George of Mount Savage. Also,surviving are three grandsons Andrew Watkins of Mount Savage; Daniel Watkins of Ridgely, West Virginia; Jody Growden and wife Marci with great granddaughter Emma of LaVale. John Helmick was the brother of the late Edward Helmick of Astatula, Florida, and Robert Helmick of Cambridge, Ohio. His parents were the late Coy E. and Helen K. Pettite Helmick of Mannington, West Virginia. Friend may call from 1:30pm until John’s Remembrance Celebration service begins at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, Maryland 21037. There will be an inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Both John and Rosalind were very supportive of their local hospital and wanted it to be staff by the Best. There will be a room named in his honor in the new Acute Care Pavilion. Memorial contributions may be sent to: Anne Arundel Medical Center, The Nursing Scholarship Foundation, c/o Mrs. Lisa Hillman and/or Mr. Larry Kushner, The Sajak Pavilion, 2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.