John W. Mauro | Musician, dispatcher, 96

John W. Mauro, 96, of Upper Darby, a musician and retired Westinghouse dispatcher, died Wednesday at his home.

Mr. Mauro worked for Westinghouse Corp. for more than 30 years until retiring in 1974. On weekends he played clarinet and saxophone at dance clubs, and for weddings and social events. He continued to play well into his 80s, his daughter Joanna said. He was a member of the Philadelphia Musical Society, American Federation of Musicians, Local 77.

He taught line dancing at area senior citizen clubs, his daughter said, and led the dancing twice a week at Watkins Senior Center in Upper Darby until January. Years ago, she said, he took dance lessons at Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Philadelphia in exchange for doing repair work.

Mr. Mauro grew up in West Philadelphia. He dropped out of school after eighth grade to make deliveries for his father's ice business. He then worked in a candy factory and a carpet mill before joining Westinghouse.

Since 1938, he had been married to his neighborhood sweetheart, Irma Carboni Mauro.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Mauro is survived by a sister and brother.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. today at St. Alice Church, Copley and Walnut Streets, Upper Darby.