John Michael Travers, 77, Career Army Ret. CW5, passed peacefully on Sunday, June 15, 2025, with his loving daughter, Terri, and his devoted wife, Kathleen, at his side. He was born on February 23, 1948, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to John A. Travers and Dorothy Okum. His father was a the Sports Editor of The Patriot-News and the Evening News, allowing him and young John to share a choice seat in the press box of sporting events. This led to John’s home constantly receiving famous athlete and coach guests, giving him an athletic edge few could only dream of. Taking the advice of his father, John decided to take up basketball and helped lead Bishop McDevitt to the State Championship in 1966.

In his senior year, John asked Kathleen Torchia to attend Prom with him. As both were shy, they went their own ways afterwards. Kathleen became a Professional Opera Singer in California and John went on to play basketball for Penn State on a scholarship. Upon entering college, John became distracted by the social life of a college student and dropped out in his freshman year. To redeem himself with his father, John joined the Army and wanted to become a pilot, just like his father was in World War II. Unsurprisingly, John did astoundingly well in flight school and became an even better pilot. Serving 18 months on his first tour in Vietnam, John flew an ambulance helicopter nonstop to save his fellow soldiers. Over the course of these missions, John was shot down twice but still returned to save the lives of those fighting under the canopy of the Vietnam Jungle.

Upon return from Vietnam, John trained helicopter pilots at Fort Indiantown Gap at the EEATS Unit, where he was revered by his students and veterans alike. He also went back to Penn State to earn his Master’s Degree in European History, graduating Summa cum laude. After 37 years, John reconnected with Kathleen Torchia when she brought an opera to the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg, and married in 2005. A short six months after they were married, John developed a rare lymphoma from exposure to Agent Orange, an herbicide used to clear the jungle foliage during the Vietnam War. John’s illness continued to escalate and become apparent when he began to struggle driving, then issues walking, eventually culminating in the inability to eat normally. As John’s condition worsened, doctors eventually reached a diagnosis: paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. This irreversible neurological damage was the result of the T-cell lymphoma. Now a prisoner in his own body, John struggled to regain his ability to move and reclaim his freedom. Through a convergence of medical care, physical therapy, and the help of Kathleen, John slowly regained a good percentage of his motor skills which enabled him and Kathleen to enjoy their marriage.

John is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen Torchia Travers, daughters Terri Travers and Kristin Peterson.

Mass will be held at 11:00AM on July 3, 2025, at St. Catherine Laboure Church, Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, 4000 Derry Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Burial will immediately follow services at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery with honors being rendered at 1:30PM. A celebration of John’s life will be hosted by the VVA Chapter 542 at 8000 Derry Street, Harrisburg 17111.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America at https://vva.org/donate/?form=FUN26MAIN&utm_source=main_donate.