John J. Ferruggio, of Milton, formerly of South Boston, died on June 19 at Milton Hospital after an illness.
Born in Boston on July 6, 1925, he graduated from South Boston High School and served as a Pharmacist Mate 1st Class in the Navy (loaned to the Third Marine Division) from 1943 to 1946.
He participated in historic battles – Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima – and received the World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific 2 Stars and America Area ribbons.
Mr. Ferruggio worked as an in-flight service director for Pan Am for 27 years. While he was working for Pan Am on Sept. 6, 1970, Flight 93 was hijacked and he was considered to be the lead person credited with saving the lives of 176 people. A documentary made by PBS, titled “Hijacked,” chronicled the incident.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Ferruggio; his sister, Josephine Ferruggio; his daughters, JoAnn Kerzel and her husband, David Doyle, Lisa DeLuca and her husband, Stephen, and Donna Lee York and her husband, Barry; and his grandchildren, Alicia, Chase, Katherine, Adam, Taylor and Jillian.
Funeral services were held June 23 in the Dolan Funeral Home. Burial was in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.
Donations may be made to the American Legion Morrisette Post #294, 116 Sea St., Quincy, MA 02169.