JOHN A. SARACCO CONSCIENTIOUS CIRCULATION MANAGER  FOR POST­ GAZETTEPittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)- Sunday, March 14, 1999Author: ELEANOR CHUTE, POST-GAZETTE  STAFF WRITERThe friends of John A. "Jack" Saracco, who worked as a circulation route manager for more than 30 years for the Post-Gazette,  were planning to celebrate his life with a retirement party Friday night.But Mr. Saracco, 54, of Upper St. Clair, who was diagnosed  with lung cancer last summer, died Friday morning at Allegheny General Hospital after he took a turn for the worse on Thursday.As a route manager,  Mr. Saracco worked most of his career in Oakland, with assignments in the Upper St. Clair-Mt. Lebanon and Carnegie-Bridgeville areas in recent years. He did collections and saw that the needs of stores, machines and some paper carriers were met.Because of illness, he had not been on the job since last year, and he retired this year.Jim Breier of Bethel Park, another route manager who had known Mr. Saracco since they were first-graders at St. Bernard School in Mt. Lebanon, said: "He loved his job. He loved meeting people, talking to the people. He was always fun to be around. He was always the guy who had the jokes and could make you laugh and carry a party.John Sable, assistant single copy manager at the Post-Gazette, said, "He was always upbeat and very conscientious of his job. No matter how small the problem was, he wanted to take care of it. Let's say a store was missing a few papers. Jack was right there to take care of the problem."Mr. Saracco joined The Pittsburgh Press as a copy boy in 1963 and met his wife, Karen Jones Saracco, who worked in the Press library, there. He spent most of his career in the circulation department at the Post­ Gazette.His kindness was a common thread woven through his life.His daughter, Michelle, a student at Penn State University in State College, said, "He was always trying to make everyone happy."

Jack was my first dancing partner.  He was my cousin and for the 1st 5-10 years of our lives we vacationed together.  He was like the brother I never had.  He was one of the kindest, big-hearted persons I have ever known.  He was a great father, brother and friend.  I'm sure he keeps God smiling. Andi Gamble Smith