Deacon John Pistone
Deacon John Pistone was in the very first Permanent Deacon class of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He began his studies to become a Deacon in 1969 and was ordained in 1972 along with these three Deacons from Galveston: Tom Hunter (St. Patrick), Richard Haller (Holy Rosary) and W.J. Bobb (St. Peter the Apostle). Deacon John was ordained for ministry at St. Mary’s Cathedral, where he served from 1972 until Hurricane Ike in 2008. The Archdiocese officially retired John in 2008, but he continues to minister along with our other five Deacons at Holy Family Parish.
John was born in Galveston on September 29, 1937 to Sam and Rose Pistone. Sam was a barber whose shop was in a building next to the Cathedral. Rose was a homemaker. Deacon John has an older sister, Carmella. The family lived in the 1800 block of Avenue G near the Cathedral. John attended St. Mary’s Cathedral School. Have you begun to notice a little connection here between Deacon John and St. Mary’s Basilica? After grade school, John attended Kirwin High School.
After graduation from Kirwin, Deacon John began his career as a printer, first with the Texas Prudential Insurance Company, then the American Printing Company, and finally with the Houston Chronicle, where he worked for 40 years. You would think he would have been driven crazy after traveling back and forth between Galveston and Houston for 40 years and after hearing all of the noises of the printing presses for 48 years. But he is very normal, as we all know.
Early in his printing days he met a beautiful nurse from Danbury, Texas, named Blanche. She worked in pediatrics at St. Mary’s Hospital in Galveston. John and Blanche married in June, 1962. They are the parents of five children and are grandparents to twelve grandchildren. Deacon John will celebrate his 49th anniversary of marriage and his 39th year as a Deacon in June of this year.
Deacon John was an avid bowler and enjoyed fishing and hunting as a younger man. He is an Astros, Texans and Cowboys fan. However, his first interest after his family is service to others in his role as a Permanent Deacon. We are fortunate for that.
Written by Fr. John Bok