John “Jake” Carl Harter Sr. of Florida, N.Y., entered into rest on Thursday, June 17, 2021. He was 89 years old.
He was born on June 16, 1932, to Catherine “Katie” Jarosz and John Joseph Harter. He was born, lived and worked in Florida, N.Y.
Jake graduated from S.S. Seward Institute. He was a passionate baseball and basketball player. He coached basketball for S.S. Seward High School and St. Joseph’s C.Y.O. Midget Basketball.
He was one of the founders and a coach of the Florida Little League program.
He helped form the Orange County A.S.A. Softball Umpires Association. Jake played baseball for the Florida American Legion team. And he loved to hunt, fish and golf.
Jake dedicated his life to serve his family and community. He served as mayor of the Village of Florida for 28 years, from March 1974 to March 2002.
He started his career as an onion farmer, was hired in 1959 by the United States Post Office to be the first walking letter carrier in the Village of Florida. He became the postmaster in January 1980 for the Village of Florida Post Office. He also was an active member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church.
Jake was instrumental in helping to build the Village of Florida Water Works, Florida Little League fields, State Trooper Barracks, Village of Florida Public Library, Glenmere Park and the Florida Village Hall to name a few.
He was a member of the Florida Fire Department, and a past-member of the Florida Lions Club and Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Florida Hunting Club, Black Bear Hunting Club and Wood Trail Hunting Club.
Jake was a kind man dedicated to making the Village of Florida a better place. He was loved and adored by his family and friends.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Leona Barbara (Brunswick) Harter. Jake is survived by his six children: sons John Jr. (Lynn) of Florida, N.Y.; and Daniel of Florida, N.Y.; daughters Patricia (Frank) Rotella of Florida, N.Y.; Lori Augustyn of Florida, N.Y.; Sandra “Sam” (Warren) Johnson of Sebring, Fla.; and Wendy (Damiano) “Nick” Basile of Holly; seven grandchildren: Daniel Jr. (Ashley) of Florida; Jonathan (Ali) of Florida, N.Y.; Jeremy (Crystal) of Port Jervis; John (Jack) III (Christina) of Warwick; Janice (Thomas) Orr of Montgomery; Jillian (Joseph) Lima of Albany; and Michael Augustyn of Florida, N.Y.; six great grandchildren: Nathan Harter, Joey and Jason Lima; John (Jake) Harter IV and the twins, Kenneth and Kendall Orr. He also is further survived by his “special family” Jeannie “Sis” Langlitz and Stas and Conrad Olejniczak.
Visitation and firematic services were held June 23 at T.S. Purta Funeral Home, 22 Glenmere Ave., Florida.
A Funeral Mass was held June 24 at St. Joseph Church, 20 Glenmere Ave., Florida.
Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery in Florida.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Florida Public Library, 4 Cohen Circle, Florida, NY 10921.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the T.S. Purta Funeral Home.
To send a condolence online, please go to www.purtafuneralhome.com.