John Henry Tillotson Jr.

John was born in Los Angeles, California, August 20, 1935.  At an early age, his family moved to Central America, where he spent most of his school years except his Senior Year when at the age of 17, he returned to the States to live in El Campo, Texas.

He joined the Marine Corps during the Korean War in New Orleans, and was soon transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, until the end of the war.  His only family in California was his Uncle Osterloh. Upon being Honorably Discharged in 1956, he came to Los Angeles and  attended Los Angeles City College, followed by Los Angeles State University with the help of the GI Bill. 

While in the Marine Corps, during his weekend leaves, he came to Los Angeles to work at Republic Van Lines driving a truck and moving furniture.  He continued this work until graduating with a degree in Business Administration and Industrial Psychology in 1960. 

While at LACC, John and I met, and after double dating with our good friends, Maria and Javier Uribe, we never stopped seeing each other.  We were married in 1959, while I was working at Union Bank in Los Angeles, and during John’s last year of school.  Our first son, Jack, was born one week after John started a full time job in sales with Republic Van Lines.

We went on to start our own company, Coast Moving and Storage, in 1964, the year our second son, Erik, was born.  In 1971, Pan American Van Lines was started with agents throughout the United States and internationally, specializing in moving vans full of computers for Xerox, Corp.,etc.,and satellites to Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base.  With many challenges during those years, they were some of the best in his career. Pan American Van Lines was sold and our real estate development ventures started after building warehouses for the moving and storage business. 

We moved to Huntington Beach in 1969, with our two sons.  We became part of the community and made many friends. We had a blast during those years working for the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Boat Parade and Cruise of Lights.  The whole family took up tennis as did other neighbor friends, playing on the weekends followed by brunch.  When traveling, we would not stay in hotels that did not have tennis courts. John and Erik took up Kong Fu earning a Fourth Degree Black Belt. Our company river rafting trips were tremendous fun, sleeping under the beautiful night sky saturated with stars! What fun! And, great memories!   

Years later, we were invited to join Club 25 comprised of Cuban couples who arrived to the US after Communist Fidel Castro took over my parents homeland.  John fitted in like a Cuban from the start, quickly making lifetime friends with whom we have travelled the world over, attended many parties, celebrations, intimate dinners and over 20 years of Super Bowl at our home.

Our two sons have always been the center of our lives. Traveling through Europe and Asia created wonderful experiences and unforgettable adventures. Jack moved to Barcelona, Spain four years ago, loving it.  Erik married Marcela with son Andres, who became our first grandson, and on August 30th, 2023 presented us with a beautiful granddaughter, Sabrina.

John and I have had many good  fortunes for which we are very thankful. We are blessed with wonderful memories, an exciting life, but most importantly having Jack and Erik, my mother, my sister, Grace, my brother,  Peter, my nieces and nephews, who all became part of John’s family.

Thank you, John, for sharing your life with us.  We will miss you and you will always be in our hearts.                 

Until we meet again, all our love to you from, Sons Jack and Erik, and your loving wife of 64 years, Haydée

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