Dr. John S. Szakaly, DDS

April 7, 1927 - October 7, 2018

SOUTH BEND, IN - Dr. John Steven Szakaly, DDS, 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday at 9:40am in The Hearth at Juday Creek with family nearby. 

He was born to the late Vincent and Christina (Nemeth) Szakaly in South Bend on April 7, 1927.

He was married to the love of his life, Jeanne Arlene Huss, on August 26, 1950 in South Bend. She preceded him in death on August 23, 1999. 

John and Jeanne's marriage was blessed with four loving sons: Dr. Martin R. (Patricia) Szakaly, DDS, Christopher J. (Ruth) Szakaly and Daniel F. (Siobhan) Szakaly all of South Bend, and Rev. Anthony V. Szakaly, CSC of Easton, MA. Seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren are also left to cherish his memory.

John graduated from Washington High School in December of 1944 (Class of 1945) and went to Indiana University, where he graduated with a BS in 1951, and from the IU School of Dentistry in 1954. He was a member of XI PSI PHI Dental Fraternity. He was a charter member of the ND Quarterback Club. He was a member of the American and Indiana Dental Associations, as well as the North Central and St. Joseph County Indiana Dental Societies, having served as President of both. 

He went into the U.S. Army Air Corps in December of 1944, during WWII, and later served for twenty years in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He retired from the Navy as a Commander, and served as Commanding Officer of the Dental Corps.

Dr. Szakaly was a long time member of Sacred Heart Parish, Notre Dame. He was head usher at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart for many years. Dr. Szakaly was a past President of the St. Joseph County Health Dept., a former Trustee of the Northern Indiana Historical Society, and past President of the St. Joseph High School Band Boosters. He was a member of the BPOE Elks Lodge 235, the Notre Dame University Club, American Legion, Northern Indiana Railway Society, and Central Indiana Electric Rail Fans. John's hobbies included: Notre Dame football and basketball, railroad lore, reading history books, and vegetable gardening. He especially loved to travel, having visited every state as well as many countries with his beloved wife, Jeanne.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 9:30am in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame Campus with his son, Fr. Tony, officiating. Burial and U.S. Navy Honor Services will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4-7pm at McGann Hay Funeral Homes, University Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Rd., where the Holy Rosary will be prayed at 4:00pm. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Congregation of Holy Cross, PO Box 1064, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or Harbor Light Hospice. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.McGannHay.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune from Oct. 9 to Oct. 10, 2018

10/10/2018 JFC

www.McGannHay.com