John Everett BALDETTA 39, died Monday, September 29, 2003 at home in Bellingham, Washington with his loving family surrounding him. He had waged a valiant battle against Lymphoma. Johnny was born in Lodi, CA on August 12, 1964. He attended White School in Rio Vista, CA and then moved to Bellingham, WA with his parents where he attended Columbia Grade School, Shuksan Middle School and Bellingham High School. Johnny worked as a nursing assistant at Bellingham Care Center, Visiting Nurse Personal Services and Sehome Park Care Center in Bellingham. He continued on in that capacity at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Everett Providence Hospital in Everett, WA and Tacoma General Hospital, Tacoma, WA. For the last two years he has been at University of Washington Hospital in Seattle. In 1999 he graduated from Ashmead College of Massage. Volunteering was a passion of Johnny's and he devotedly gave his time during holidays, wrapping and distributing gifts to needy families and spending time with troubled youths. He also tutored children in math. Johnny spent countless hours lecturing at grade schools, prisons, youth centers and churches about HIV-AIDS. Johnny will always be remembered for his generous, loving, caring and sharing ways. He was devoted to his family and his many friends. His gratitude to the wonderful nurses and staff at University of Washington Hospital is boundless. Johnny and his family are grateful for the pastoral guidance and friendship given to them by Johnny's priest, Father David Jaeger, Seattle. Surviving this remarkable young man are his parents, Lois and John Baldetta of Bellingham; his sisters, brother and their spouses, Jennifer (Don) Jenkins, Bellingham, Julie Keith, Everson, Tony (June) Baldetta, Bellingham and Angelina (Rob) Wood of Oak Harbor. He leaves his aunt, Jeannie Nixt of Bellingham and nieces and nephews, Joleen and Karli Jenkins, Jeanie and Andrew Keith, Jeffrey Wilson, Derek and Vincent Baldetta, Alison and Megan Wood and his great niece, Cadence Pen. Cadence adopted Johnny's beloved pet hamsters, George and Goldie!! A special, dear friend and caregiver, Beckie Struthers and her two children, Garret and Holly are also left to mourn him. In California, Johnny is survived by aunts and uncles, Everene McPherson, Leila (Victor) Mazo, Pasquale (Ruth) Baldetta and Theresa Gibbs and in Florida, Virginia (Craig) King. Numerous cousins also survive him. He was predeceased by uncles and aunts, James (Buck) McPherson, David and Evelyn Ellingwood, Jeffrey Nixt, Jospephine Ashby and by grandparents, Jeanie Nixt, Everett Ellingwood and Flora and John Baldetta. Remembrances in Johnny's name may be made to: Aids Care Teams of Multifaith Works, 1729 Harvard Ave., Seattle, WA 98122. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, October 25 at 11 a.m. in Bellingham at Fox Hall, 3985 Bennett Dr. Published in print on 10/4/2003. Seattle Times