I am very saddened to report the Passing of Yonkers City Post 1666 VFW Life Member, John "Jack” Lotz. Born August 13, 1933 to John and Elizabeth Horton Lotz in Yonkers where he was raised and educated in Yonkers High School and Saunders Trade and Technical School.

Jack Lotz served his country proudly in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War from 1951 to 1954. His rank was BTG 3rd class (Boilerman Third Class Petty Officer (Shipboard) ) and he received the Korean Service Medal and the occupational medal .

Jack was a proud member of the screen actors guild, performing in many Television commercials, moves such as Ragging Bull and other recognizable shows such as the Sopranos. Jack also was a former World Wrestling Federation (WWF) referee. A position he held for more then 33 years. Jack was the third man in the ring to count when Hulk Hogan pinned the Iron Sheik to capture the WWF Championship. Jack also was the referee for the first three wrestemanias. Jack previously was an assembler at Otis Elevator Co. and prior to that, he was a teamster at Yonkers Butter and Egg.

Jack had been a member New York Athletic Commission for thirty six years. Was a Life Member of VFW #1666 , Disabled Vets Org Chap #16, Korean War Veteran Chapter 91-past commander, past county commander, past chairman Central Committee of Yonkers Veteran Organizations. He was also active in various food drives and in all veteran’s events and was an activist for all veterans. Jack also served in a leadership capacity with the Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans Organizations, the New York State Korean War Veterans, and the Korean War Veterans. He has organized a number of large-scale events for both the Veterans State Nursing Home and the Federal Nursing Home upstate in Montrose. He has also created a fund with the Yonkers Veterans Post to support homeless veteran; founded the Medal of Honor Ceremony; helped the Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans secure a location for the Yonkers Veterans Museum; and helped organize the Veterans March on Washington, D.C., to demonstrate support for mandatory healthcare for all veterans.

On December 2, 2016, John Lotz was awarded Top Honors at the Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Class of 2016 and on May 9, 2017 he was awarded by the State of New York Older New Yorkers Day. These awards were for his continued dedication and volunteering for our Veterans. On July 24, 1954, he married his loving wife Mary B. Bolash in St. Mary’s Church in Yonkers. Mrs. Lotz survives and lives in Yonkers. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Thomas M. Lotz of Putnam County and John Lotz Jr. of Rochester, NY and three daughters, Jacqueline Lotz Immer of Yonkers, Debera Lotz Arnita of Matamoras, PA and Elizabeth Lotz Dzurinko of Milton, Ga. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, Steve Phelps. Donations in his memory may be made to either the N.Y.S. Veterans’ Home @ Montrose, 2090 Albany Post Rd., Montrose, N.Y. 10548 or the Tower of Hope, 228 Park Ave. South, New York, N.Y. 10003. Due to the corona virus outbreak, all services are private. Whalen & Ball Funeral Home 168 Park Ave. Yonkers, N.Y. 10703