Known as “Jack” to his neighbors, John Carcano was nominated as a Hometown Hero by those he has helped in the Holly Creek community of Jensen Beach.
At 80 years old, John Carcano has given a lifetime of service.
After 30 years of employment at IBM, following ten more years as an independent contractor with the company, Mr. Carcano retired. He began in 1959 as a serviceman—looking for quality serviceable products and retired as a service planner in which he supported the servicemen.
During his years at IBM, Mr. Carcano served as a volunteer with the Federation of the Handicapped. He taught dark room photography to handicapped people, some of which were returning Viet Nam veterans.
During these years John and his wife, Arlene, traveled to many ports of call as John taught basic computer skills classes aboard cruise ships.
The couple have been married for 56 years, raised two sons, and are blessed with seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
The Carcanos relocated several times because of IBM’s work placement. At retirement, the couple happened to be living in Boca Raton.
From that home, John worked as a volunteer at the Delray Beach Community Hospital. He even became a certified rescue diver.
Looking for a quieter, more rural town to reside in, the couple came to Jensen Beach 18 years ago.
Since coming to Martin County, John has become a volunteer with Martin Health System. There he has worked in the Cancer Center, adjacent to Martin North for ten years.
Within Holly Creek John walks dogs, feeds cats, starts cars, fixes gadgets, lets service men in and out of neighbors’ homes and checks on the houses of those away. In the past he has provided rides to and from the airport.
John also provides free computer help for any neighbor in the development and he visits any neighbor who might be in the hospital.
One often wonders where the good will of service to others comes from?
With John it is a good feeling of satisfaction. But dig into his roots and the evidence becomes quite evident.
John Carcano Sr., his father, worked for the police department in Queens, driving a paddy wagon.
His mother was an immigrant to the United States from Great Britain. During her married life in Howard Beach in Queens, she both raised a family and took in numerous foster children who were transitioning to permanent foster families. Arlene, John’s wife, recalls seeing her mother-in-law sitting next to the wood stove in her house on stilts with a wrapped baby in her arms. Her desire to love a needy child kept many out of state institutions.
John Carcano is a quiet and humble gentleman. He has taken his mind and his offer to assist others and has helped the lives of many for decades. His neighbors write this about him, “We have never met a person more willing to help others when he can. The world would be such a wonderful place if it were filled with ‘Jacks.’”
When asked what he expects to be doing during the next five years, Mr. Carcano responds, “I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. It’s not anything special. I’m just being a good neighbor.”
John Carcano is a Hometown Hero and Holly Creek’s best kept secret.
HAVE A HERO TIP? Hometown Heroes are in every town and city. They are regular people who have made a positive difference in their community, impacting others for the better. Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon kfjadon@gmail.com or find her online at kellyjadon.com.
How Jensen Beach Feeds America
© 2014 "Hometown Heroes" Kelly Jadon