John Michael Sharockman's Obituary
John Michael “Jack” Sharockman, age 84, of Round Hill, VA, peacefully passed away on Sunday July 30, 2023.
Born in St. Clair, Pennsylvania on October 16, 1938, he was a son of the late John and Elizabeth (Miller) Sharockman. He attended St. Clair Elementary and High Schools graduating in June 1956 as the class scholar athlete and member of the National Honor Society. Upon winning a merit scholarship to Lafayette College, he graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1975.
John began his engineering career in the summer of 1958 working for a private corporation constructing a highway in the State of Pennsylvania. His government career began in the summer of 1959 as a Chemical Engineer Trainee for the U.S. Bureau of Mines at their experimental station in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the top trainee to participate in a design team effort to develop an experimental process to liquefy anthracite coal directly to liquid petroleum by irradiation. He worked under the direction of the project engineer who had worked on the "Manhattan Project”.
Starting in 1960, after graduating from Lafayette College with a chemical engineering degree, John began his civilian Navy career. Working as a chemical engineer, he was a member of a production engineering group at the US Naval Propellant Plant (now Naval Ordnance Station Indian Head, MD). He worked on the design team to scale up a manufacturing process of a critical energetic needed in the development of the POLARIS A-3 Program. Earlier this energetic became critical to the national security needs when the contractor' s plant was destroyed in an accident.
John worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland during all the manned moon missions, including the Apollo 11 moon landing mission on July 21, 1969. In the mid-1970s, he returned to work again for the US Navy as a civilian. From 1983 until his retirement in June of 2004, John worked for the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. He retired with 44 years of government service.
In addition to being a dedicated professional, John was also a devoted family man, a loving husband and father. To actively participate in his children’s lives, John involved himself in afterwork activities: PTA, Greater Accokeek Civic Association, Cub Scouts, baseball, swimming, and accompanying the children on field trips.
One of John’s passions involved large scale Do-It-Yourself projects: like building a 20’x40’ concrete patio, building a shed the size of a small barn, other concrete projects involved pouring a new driveway, sidewalks and steps to the backyard. The 200’ long concrete swale he designed and built became an example that the county used for their storm water control. Perseverance was a trait that was instilled in each of the children with each and every project. Great friendships were built with the neighbors and close relatives who helped with these projects and home-cooked feasts were enjoyed at the end of the day.
He is survived by his adoring wife for 62 years Patricia “Pat”; his three children, Patricia (Rodney), Mary (Ross), and John (Larisa); two grandsons Matthew and Christopher (Nellie); sister Alice, sister-in-law Charlotte and many nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by five siblings, Renie, Eleanor, Ed, Charlie and Greg.
Services will be held on Friday, August 11, 2023. Viewing will be held at 9:30am-10:30am and Mass at 10:30am at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville, VA. Interment will be following at Ketoctin Baptist Church & Cemetery in Purcellville, VA.
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