By Deborah Larsen
John Anthony Boeberitz
John Anthony Boeberitz was born in Rochester, Michigan, on June 29, 1916, the son of Zachariah and Anna Wegener Boeberitz. John attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1934. Before the war, John worked for Detroit Edison.
In April 1942, John enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. Both of his siblings also served in uniform, and back at home, his mother was active in the Rochester chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America and chaired its World War II Honor Roll committee. After training, John was assigned as an electrician’s mate on a Coast Guard-manned destroyer escort operating in the Atlantic. His ship made 38 escort crossings of the Atlantic to keep shipping lanes open. John was released from military service in September 1945.
After the war, John returned to his career at Detroit Edison. He was very active in community affairs, serving as president of the Village of Rochester, charter member of the Rochester City Council, chairman of the Rochester Centennial, president of the Kiwanis Club of Rochester, commander of the Homer Wing American Legion post, and charter member of the Rochester-Avon Historical Society. John was well known in Rochester for his passion for sharing local history.
John Anthony Boeberitz died at age 59 on May 22, 1976, and was laid to rest in Mount Avon Cemetery.