John Wakeman Carlo

John was born in Washington, D.C. on November 6, 1943 to Joseph Philip and Mary Lesta Wakeman Carlo.

John grew up in Falls Church, VA, and was an exceptional athlete from an early age. His father, Joe, was the coach of the football team at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C. John spent many summer days and autumn afternoons at his father’s side, learning the sport that would become his passion.

At George Mason High School, John played four sports, but made his greatest impression on the gridiron. and is remembered for his record-breaking performances as a star running-back. John’s number was retired when he became a charter member of the George Mason Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

John’s achievements on the football field earned him a full scholarship at Duke University, where he was a letterman and graduated with friendships that would span a lifetime. John was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins, and enjoyed what he described as the best year of his football life playing for one of their feeder teams, the Virginia Sailors.

After earning his master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland, John worked for a year as a recruiter and coach at the University of Tennessee before answering the call of his Duke teammate and former Baltimore Colt Mike Curtis to become partners in a new restaurant franchise.

John made his career and supported his family working in the restaurant industry for the next 40 years. He was a natural entrepreneur who was always bubbling with new ideas, ideas that were often ahead of their time.

John is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth Scovil; children, John David and Margaret Ann Daniel (Brent); granddaughters, Isabelle Scovil Daniel and Vivian Stewart Daniel; brother, David Philip (Donna); sisters, Laura Carlo Piver and Mary Jo Carlo Coyle (Bill); nieces and nephews, Michael Piver, Alan Piver, Sarah Jeanette McDonald, Megan Coyle, Caroline Coyle, David Carlo Jr, and Jason Carlo; and cousins, Syver More, Jan More, and JoAnn Cristaldi Dandurand.

The Service of Witness to the Resurrection for John will be held Wednesday, May14th, at 2PM at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1714 Oberlin Road, Raleigh.