John Maganas was born in Jersey City, NJ, one of three children born to Greek immigrants. He grew up White Plains, NY and Stamford, CT and attended the University of Alabama (where he played one year as an offensive tackle on the Crimson Tide’s football team) before transferring to Connecticut Junior College where he graduated.
Early in his career, Maganas worked as a credit manager for Sears Roebuck before moving to Malvern, PA where he began his career in the grocery industry. Maganas worked for several of the leading food brokerage organizations in the Delaware Valley during his long career, including Bonstedt Coale, Hagerty Sales and the Joseph W. Riley Co. In the early 1980s, he decided to venture out on his own, forming J. Maganas Sales, a one-man brokerage that called on customers in the Greater Philadelphia area. He retired in 1997.
John Maganas enjoyed construction projects, especially building porches and home additions for friends. After he retired, Maganas kept up with current events and politics – he loved sharing his insights and opinions with friends and family. He and his wife Dorothy also enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; five children – John, Steve, Tom, Mary Ann and Chris (who followed his dad’s path into the grocery business); as well as six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to whom he was known as “Poppi.”