John Thomas Pallotta

John T. Pallotta, 69, of Wadsworth, Ohio, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on February 23, 2026.

Born in Bedford, Ohio on August 3, 1956, John spent most of his life in Northeast Ohio. He dedicated his professional life to social work, beginning with the study of infant development and continuing through decades of service to children and families in the Cleveland area. In the later years of his career, he served as a guardian for the elderly, advocating for those who could not advocate for themselves.

John was preceded in death by Barbara Joyce Jackson (1989), the mother of his daughters and the one he regarded as the love of his life, whose loss profoundly shaped the course of his life. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Norman Pallotta (2007) and Margaret Pallotta (2012).

He is survived by his daughter, Athena Jay Pallotta of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, along with her partner, Keith Huettenmoser, whom John regarded as family; and by his daughters Kimberly Speer (Anthony) of Lyndhurst, Ohio, and Desiree Cain (Brandon) of Lexington, North Carolina. He is also survived by his grandchildren Evan, Skyler, Mekhi, Faith, and Tyrah. He is further survived by his sister, Kathleen Pallotta (Robyn Webb) of Chillicothe, Ohio; his brother, Anthony Pallotta (Roseanne) of Macedonia; and his niece Michele and nephew Brian.

John was a lifelong reader and seeker, drawn to big questions about meaning and human nature. He read so voraciously that he gave away entire libraries more than once, only to begin building them again. Books and long conversations about philosophy, psychology, emotions, and meaning were central to his life. He also loved cinema and could spend hours unpacking a story's moral and symbolic layers.

He was a creative and sensitive man who expressed himself throughout his life through writing and art. Though often serious in his reflections, he carried a self-deprecating and goofy sense of humor that brought lightness to those around him. Spiritual inquiry was an essential part of his life, and he spent many years exploring different religious and philosophical traditions as part of his search for meaning. In recent years, he returned to journaling and to a deliberate examination of his inner world. Those who knew him understood that he was always trying to live more honestly, to let go of what felt false and to come closer to what he would call his "true self." He was attentive to synchronicities and the hidden patterns of life, honoring them as part of life's quiet mystery. Nature was also important to him, and he valued the long hikes and walks he shared over the years with his best friend Dennis, as well as the bike rides he took through Ohio's parks and valleys.

John's life was marked by profound love and profound loss. He felt deeply and cared deeply. He believed in facing life's harder truths and was especially sensitive to injustice and unacknowledged suffering. His convictions were strong, and he was never indifferent. Beneath everything, he longed for connection and to be understood. Those who loved him knew his tenderness and his enduring desire to grow.

His presence shaped those who came into contact with him in lasting, complex, and meaningful ways. He will be remembered for the depth and humor with which he engaged life, and for his quiet devotion to looking inward, encouraging others to face their own complexity with courage and curiosity.

The family extends special thanks to Dennis Black and Janine Peterson-Black of Wadsworth, Ohio for their enduring friendship and generosity throughout his life and in his final years.

A private celebration of life will be held for close family and friends at a later date.