OSWEGO, NY – John M. Canale, 93, of Oswego, died Tuesday July 18, 2017, at St. Luke Health Services after a brief illness.
Mr. Canale was born in Oswego, the son of the late Albert and Catherine (Licciardi) Canale.
Mr. Canale served in the United States Army, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge; he was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Mr. Canale taught for 18 years at Kingsford Park School, served in the administration department at the Oswego Board of Education, for 18 years and remained a substitute teacher until June of 2017, at the age of 93.
Mr. Canale was honored in 2017 by the Oswego School District for his 66 years, as a dedicated teacher and administrator.
The Oswego Middle School yearbook for 2016 – 2017 was dedicated in his name.
He was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Church where he served as a lector, Eucharist minister, was an altar server at funeral masses, and a member of the choir.
Mr. Canale was an alderman for 20 years representing the Third Ward.
In 2014, he was honored by the city of Oswego for his service where they dedicated a street “John M. Canale Drive.
He was a renowned author having published “A Life’s Journey, Battle of the Bulge & Youth” and “A Handbook on Participation in Government in Oswego Politics.”
He was a contributing writer for the Palladium Times.
In 2009 he was inducted into the Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame for playing and being basketball team captain, and his baseball career with a batting average above .300, and for coaching men’s soccer, basketball and baseball for 20 years.
Mr. Canale is survived by his wife of 65 years, Angeline Scaglione Canale of Oswego; his son and daughter-in-law, Gregory and Zinovia Canale of Rhode Island; grandsons, John, James and Christopher Canale; and sister, Mary Ghent of Florida.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Joseph, Michael and Benjamin Canale.
Funeral services will be Monday, July 24, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Oswego.
Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Calling hours will be held Sunday, July 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sugar Scanlon Funeral Home, 147 W. Fourth St., Oswego.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mary of the Assumption Church Building Fund, 103 W. Seventh St., Oswego.
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Me. Canale was a gentlemen he was wonderful guy I’ll with miss him and I know that
so many people will too he was one of the nicest people that I’ve met god bless sending
Condolences to his family
And everyone he knew
I was lucky to met and work with Mr. Canale at the Oswego High School. He was a wonderful teacher and a great man. Some of my favorite memories are when he would sing for the students. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
We need a bigger street to be named after this man who gave almost all of those 93 years to service to Oswego! The next new street probably should be named for him…we can never forget our war veterans, but esp. those who continued to give to their communities.
Mr. Canale was an amazing man. Even when I was a trouble-causing, school-hating teenager, he made classes so much better when he was the substitute. Everyone loved this man. If someone ever did have anything snide to say about him you had better believe the rest of the student body jumped to his defense. I remember the songs he used to sing us in school, and just what a generally better day I would have when he was the teacher. He will be missed!
I had Mr Canale as a teacher in high school numorous times he was a wounderful man with such enthusiasm he would tell us stories about his past and sing his military songs and if someone was in a bad mood he was always there to brighten their spirits I am very sorry for the families loss he really was an amazing man
My sincere condolences to Mr. Canale’s family.
He took his life and responsibilities seriously. From his obituary I see that he lived a full and long life, not long enough but still a good life.
He was my sixth grade teacher at Kingsford Park School. He was respected by every student.
I’m happy to have known him!
Such a loss to Oswego, he was an inspiration to all. Last night in my kitchen, talking about him, my two grandsons 24 and 14 started singing ” I don’t want no more of Army life……..!” They had both had him as a substitute and remembered him so fondly! He will be missed, but never forgotten. God bless him and your family.