Valley native to be interred at Arlington

Mitovich served in the Merchant Marines and Marine Corps.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The ashes of former Youngstown resident John Mitovich will be interred in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Friday.

Mitovich, who died May 29, 2007, in Shelton, Conn., at 80, grew up in Youngstown. He enlisted in the Merchant Marines in 1952 and after six months transferred to the Marine Corps. He was released from active duty in 1954 with the rank of corporal.

Mitovich was born Feb. 8, 1927, in Youngstown, the son of John and Rose Mitovich, immigrants from Kriva Palanka, Macedonia. He graduated in 1945 from Chaney High School, where he was an all-star guard on the school’s championship football team and was selected for the All-Mahoning County First Team.

Mitovich received a bachelor of science degree in journalism in 1951 from Ohio University. After working from 1955 to 1966 in public relations at several General Electric facilities, he was employed as president of the Rockford, Ill., Chamber of Commerce from 1966 until 1970. He then accepted a position with the Chamber of Commerce in Stamford, Conn., as president of South Area Connecticut Industrial Association from 1970 until 1990.

During his career, he was named in “Who’s Who in America” for his service in public relations, business and community leadership. He retired from SACIA in 1990 and moved to Albuquerque, N.M., returning to Connecticut in 1997.

His daughter, Victoria Choma of Stratford, Conn., said all of Mitovich’s six children, none of whom live in the Youngstown area, numerous grandchildren, a great-grandchild he never met, and various other family members plan to attend Friday’s ceremony.

Among those attending from this area are his nieces Deborah McCullough of Poland and Saundra Mitovich Beam of Youngstown. Other Mitovich relatives planning to attend the ceremony are Dr. James and Leslie LaPolla and Rosalind Corbo, all of Florida. A nephew, Nick Mitovich of Lordstown, is unable to attend.