It is sad to see such a forthright and powerful teacher and coach pass away. I had Mr. Morello for Biology my freshman year and got to interact with him when he conducted our weight training in the Spring for football. Having been the son of a retired Marine, I had a lot of respect for Mr. Morello in that regard as well. My condolences to the Morello family and I'm glad to have had Mr. Morello as part of my education as I know anyone who has him would have been just as fortunate.

Rest in Peace, Mr. John Morello.

John, a shining light in a sometimes perilous world. You helped guide me as a young teacher, made me a member of the "Rat Patrol", and when troubles appeared, always "had my six". You will be missed by many, John. Semper Fi, my friend.

I was saddened to learn of John’s passing.  In 1968 John and I were in the same platoon snd spent the summer at Camp Upshure, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. attending the first session of officer candidate school.  John was a mighty presence and he had everyone’s attention when he entered the circle with a pugilist stick. No one volunteered to take him on.  We bonded when we realized that the two of us, along with about 38 others, survived a “hike” in the hills of Virginia.  We started the hike with a complement of 240 Marines.  He was a true leader and could best be described as “a man’s man”.  I saw him infrequently over the years but we always relived that summer of 1968.

John was instrumental in hiring me and allowing me to become a science teacher at SMHS.  He was a mentor and role model for me and always had the teacher’s backs. I am now retired, but I will always remember John with fondness and so appreciated his words of wisdom.  Once I visited him when he was in the hospital (long ago), and he reminded me (from his hospital bed) that I was doing an amazing job and needed to remember that teaching was, in fact, a job…. he basically told me to get home to my family!

He was a special man and I am sorry he is gone.  I will always remember him with fondness and appreciation.

Stephanie Vasconcellos

RIP my dear kind accomplished neighbor 🙏🏼🥲
We will all miss you at Triple Crown 🙏🏼
Mike in Unit E

It has been a month since John  left us and it’s so very quiet next-door. We miss him. we first met John when he was teaching at San Marcos high and coaching the girls and boys golf team which he loved    When  he retired he would go fly fishing up north with his brothers and was president of the southern Cal golf Association, which he enjoyed doing very much,   We shared books that we liked, thrillers and sports and had a lot of discussions about football golf and of course the Padres and Giants. It seems very strange to not see the big red van parked in his parking place  He used to come back from his fishing trips and his golf outings, and his Costco runs, and we always had a few words , His beloved Corvette always brought a smile to his eyes.  His brother,  Nick has been so amazing taking care of him the last few months and at the end his brother Chris was here. it is so special to see a  family surrounding a loved one in this time. John and I will miss John very much and send much love and prayers to the family.

I had the privilege to know John while coaching with him for a few years at San Marcos high school.  He was a sincere man that always looked for the best in a person. I respected him as a teacher and an honest and strait forward man.  Although our time together was just a few years he was a sincere friend.
   I am thankful that I was able to  coach with him and be his friend.

Jim Williams

I had the honor of being in Coach Morello’s Biology class and on his golf team for 4 years. The life lessons he taught me and my peers and the way that he treated people around him will stick with me forever. He will be greatly missed.

If tears could build a stairway, And memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven, And bring John home
again.   Thank you Nick for taking care of your big
brother John for many years.  You were his hero.
Rebecca Berry,  neighbor, educator and friend.

John was one of the first men I met at DU when I was a Freshman at UOP in 1970.  He was bigger than Life!  Lots of fond memories!

Thanks, Joe Dietrich

It didn't take me very long to realize John was an excellent teacher who took teaching as his calling to make this world a better place in many ways. His dedication to his students and his profession was obvious and he felt at ease to share his ideas with me when they could improve our school.  He was a leader on campus and respected by all. 
My condolences to his family,
Frans Weits,  SMHS Principal 1998-2003

John was a dynamo. His energy was felt all over campus. He was an imposing figure with a very confident manner. He was always ready and able to help. Once you looked in his eyes you saw his confidence and honesty. I can still hear his voice, see his smile,  and take in his vey contagious laugh. 
He was an amazing advocate of the Science department. He lived an incredible and well deserved life. The world is a lesser place without him.

John was my cousin.  In our youth we would see each other on family functions.  We were close in age so football was always in the mix.  John was always open with his view of life and we often had grand discussions about the future .  I remember his humor and playfulness.  John was always fun to be with.  Our careers were similar and teaching was a great challenge.   When together we would talk about students and our challenge to help mold them into productive.  He was always ahead of the curve and so were his students.  John set an example at a very high point and I for one always tried to live up to his example.  He will is deeply missed by me and my whole family.
Cousin  Ed  Ryken

John was always very kind to me and so many others. On my Facebook wall several former students have responded to this sad news. Please know that his memory is a blessing to so many people.

Mr Morello was my Freshman Biology teacher at SMHS… I loved him. Although I loved Biology already, I always loved how he made class fun for everyone.  May his memory be a blessing  💗

John was my friend and my patient for 35+ years.   I have felt his presence in my life since his passing.  Rest in peace Coach!
Dr Richard Skay

John and I taught in the science department at San Marcos High School from 1976 until I retired in 2005. We cochaired during the early 2000s. I’ll never forget his enthusiasm, positivity, and zeal for life. I loved listening to his stories…his encounter as a Marine one day with Oliver North…his time blocking for OJ Simpson in community college…his battles as our SMUSD negotiator with his Italian paisano, John V. We lost touch after I retired, but in 2007 John saw my dad, a longtime golf coach at Vista High School, and gave to him a golf club for me…what a generous gift. I will never forget you, John.

When I think of heroes I have met in my lifetime, John is among them. I first met John in 2010 as a member of the SCGA Board. For the next 13 years he was a mentor and inspiration to me. His passion for the game of golf and passing it on to the next generations was contagious.

I was also fortunate to have many dinners with John and listen to his many stories. I learned so much being around him.

He was a true gentleman and I will miss him.

Really sad to hear of Johns passing.  He and I were close during 
our years at UOP.  A real TIGER ghreat backer and team mate.
Talked to John once he planted in Southern Cal.  Thanks for the friendship and memories John.
REST IN PEACE. A real Tiger;
TomLebherz

I first met John when I went to UOP as a football player in 1970.  A number of new recruits and I went to a keg  party on some island in the Delta and we were having a great time.  College life was going to be great based on this party!  Unfortunately the next day was the first day of Spring Football Practice and unbeknownst to us at the time, one of the older football players at the party was our linebacker coach, John Morello!  He looked at us in line for the sled, all a little green from the night before and John says "I heard that some of you boys were out having a little fun last night?!".  We went up and down that damn sled so many times that even if we hadn't spent the night before drinking we would have been near death.  Yep, that's my "forever" memory of John.  RIP Tiger!

Coach Morello impacted my family and my kids lives in so many great ways.  His wisdom and guidance through their high school years and making sure they were good people first and golf second was his legacy. He will truly be remembered in our lives.   Greg Cesario

We'll all miss John - among many other communities, he was a leader and pillar in the SCGA's.  What I learned most from John was the importance of loyalty and I also learned a lot about how to enjoy life.  John was an inviting person - he was always available for you and he wanted to share his experiences and opportunities with others.  He cared deeply about the work of the SCGA Junior Golf Foundation and was always asking what more he could do to help. I miss him dearly.

We’ve lost an honest, faithful and true American in John Morello. To call him simply a friend doesn’t do the relationship justice. His work with young students  helped shape the lives of so many of today’s 
adults and he left an impression on many of us, who were privileged to work with him.
St. Peter should simply hand him the keys.
Ed Holmes

John and were honored to work together to play a role in the merger of the Women’ and Men’s’ Southern California Golf Association (2016 - 2018). He was a kind and competent negotiator—I learned patience and dedication from him during the dozen or so years we served together on the SGGA Board of Directors.

Coach Morello was an inspiration to my sons. He was their golf coach at SMHS and he meant the world to our family. He will be greatly missed.
The Norby Family

We will always appreciate and never forget John's leadership in golf and his personal friendship.
Tom Addis
Past President PGA
Executive Director Emeritus, SCPGA

We all mourn the loss of this larger-than-life man.  John was an amazing person and I have nothing but wonderful memories of him.  His smile was infectious, and he purely brought joy to all of us who surrounded and knew him.  John would always make time to show he cared about the people he was interacting with, or mentoring.  He simply cared for others and showed it daily!   The world has lost one of its best, rest in peace my friend!

OBITUARY

John Patrick Morello

12 March, 1947 – 1 February, 2024

El Camino Memorial - Encinitas

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