John Felice Obituary

My sympathy

Ithaca

“When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon — do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithaca mean.”

Ithaka
Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)

Enjoy the journey, John: we will never forget you.

William L. Starck
Washington DC/Napoli, Italia

Elizabeth Jackson Hall
Bloomington IL

Christopher L.M. Murphy
Chicago IL

Kate, my heartfelt and heart print condolence. They say memories are gratitude of the heart...I have memories to last a life time of my
student days at The John Felice Rome Center. I offer a prayer of thanks for the privilege of knowing John. For his gift of self. For his love of laughter. For his verve for innovation and his strength of pursuit. For the insight of his guidance and the generosity of his love. For the high standards he set for many of us. While diminished by his loss---yet so much richer for his life.

I take solace in the realization that John has been freed from the pain and limitations that were making life increasingly difficult for him and he is in the presence of the God whom he served all his life.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Kate.

Mary Mills, RN
Chicago
[Pioneer student, Class of 1962]

Mary Mills, RN

Kate, My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort. I want to thank God for allowing me meet in my life Mr.John Felice- a person who will always have a special place in my heart.

John Felice will always hold a special place in our hearts. His spirit and vision will continue to fuel the dreams and experiences of future generations of Rome Center students.
Jack Traficano, Rome Center,'77-'78
Margaret Flanagan, Rome Center,'77-78

Dear Kate,
We remember John fondly as a good friend and colleague and are grateful for all the times we spent together with him. He was a remarkable person and impacted the lives of many. For this, he will be sadly missed. The wonderful memories we have makes us strong and keeps his spirit in our hearts. Our sincere condolences and prayers and thoughts are with you.

We enjoyed taking care of John. We will miss his smile and love of life. Our thoughts are with Kate.

Dearest Kate,
Lynn and I are so privileged to have known John since 1965, and to have experienced the Rome Center in its early days. But our friendships with you and John in the past 20 years we truly treasure. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Fondly, Lynn and Rob Martin

John Felice lived his life in service of others to the greater honor and glory of God. His counsel, guidance and direction significantly impacted countless students. We are but two of those students who will always fondly and greatefully treasure his memory.
John, your legacy is not only the center that bears your name but also the life changing impact of your vision on so many students.
Kate, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Judge Bettina(Marchlewski)Gembala
Judge Francis Gembala ret.

Mr. Felice was one of a kind. He changed many lives with his vision. He will be missed. God Bless. Bridget McGuire Nagai, Rome Center 81-82