John Anthony Centra

John A. Centra, age 88, of Pottsville, PA formerly of Pennington, NJ and Manlius, NY passed away on Sunday, December 19th, 2021 at Geisinger St Luke's Hospital in Orwigsburg.  

Born in Herkimer, NY on February 23, 1933, he was the son of the late Americo and Angela (Macri) Centra. 

After graduating from Herkimer High School, Class of 1950, John went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY at Albany, a Master's Degree from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Michigan State University. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1954 until 1956. John spent much of his career at the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ, and then as a Professor and Chair of the Higher Education Program at Syracuse University. He was a leading expert in the field of higher education and was well recognized for his research and publications in the area of faculty evaluation. 

John was known for his sense of humor, his basketball skills, his love of sports (especially the Syracuse Orange), and his enthusiasm for discussing politics. But his greatest treasure was spending time with his beloved family. John is survived by his wife, Dr. Nancy (Halloran) Centra, who was his favorite travel partner while they explored many parts of the globe during their 58 years of marriage; three daughters: Catherine “Cathy” Coyle and her husband Timothy, Pottsville, Elizabeth "Liza" Corso and her husband Jonathan, Decatur, GA, and Joan Centra, Tucker, GA; four grandchildren: Ryan, Patrick, and Catie Coyle and Sam Corso; three sisters: Anne Ormond, Levittown, NY, Nancy Miller, Herkimer, NY, and Marlene Centra Smith, Herkimer, NY; and many nieces, nephews, and granddogs.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the St. John the Baptist Church in Pottsville at 11 AM on Wednesday, December 29th, with Monsignor Edward Coyle officiating. Relatives and Friends are invited to a viewing on Tuesday evening from 6-8PM and Wednesday morning from 10-11AM at the St. John the Baptist Church.

Interment with Military Honors will be held in the St. John the Baptist No. 2 Cemetery in Pottsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pentagon Memorial Fund.

The Robert A Evans Jr Funeral Home in Port Carbon is in charge of arrangements. Please send condolences to www.robertaevansjrfh.com.

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