True heroes rarely wear capes

John D’Aquila was born in Middletown, CT, on April 6, 1923. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army, trained as a combat medic, and served in the 11th Armored Division under General George Patton. John was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge and received a purple heart for his valor. As part of the liberating forces, John was one of the first Americans to witness the horrors of the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. He was the only surviving medic from his Division at the end of WWII.

Following the war, John worked for many years as an attorney in New York City. When John retired and moved to Belle Terre, NY, he started a new phase in his life—that of teacher. As a lifelong theater lover, John sat on the Board of Directors of Theater Three in Port Jefferson, NY. Jeffrey Sanzel wrote “From the Fires: Voices of the Holocaust”—which John narrated—based in part on John’s experiences at Mauthausen.

In 2012, John married his partner of 55 years, Dr. Myron Ledbetter. His generous spirit drew people to him wherever he went. Sadly, John passed away on August 14, 2014, at the age of 91.

John’s niece, Lisa Hebert said “during his life, he had several heart surgeries at the Mayo Clinic, but as he got older, he relied on the medical teams at Mather. Because of his experiences, he wanted to ensure that Mather would have the resources needed to continue to provide high-quality care to the community he called home for many years.” John’s thoughtful legacy gift will help support Mather and those we serve for many years to come.

Christopher Reeve defined a hero “as an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure despite overwhelming obstacles. A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people.” As a soldier, teacher, and philanthropist, John D’Aquila was a hero.