Obituary of John Rinko

Saratoga Springs, NY – Mr. John Rinko, 92, passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2024, in the comfort of his home, with his wife by his side.

was born in Herkimer, NY on August 5, 1932, the son of Michael and Anna (Kovalchik) Rinko. He graduated Herkimer High School in 1950, then served in the Navy as a corpsman from 1951 to 1955. John graduated from SUNY Oswego and earned his master’s degree in Education from the University at Albany, NY. Mr. Rinko was an instructor at Saratoga Springs High School for 30 years, where he taught industrial arts, photography, engineering drafting, and driver’s education. It was his love of driving that led him to establish the Rinko Driving School, and he found immense satisfaction in teaching generations of drivers to safely master the roads.

John loved the outdoors; he took pleasure in activities such as baseball, softball, hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, and golf. He brought his family to the “camp” at Caroga Lake every summer and to the seaside in Maine several times to enjoy the water. Using his diverse skill sets, he built out his home and made improvements on his house and camp, worked on his cars, tended a large vegetable garden, and maintained a beautiful yard. John was also a member of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge. 

Active in the Russian Orthodox Church his entire life, John received Archpastoral Gratitude in 2015 for his many years of dedicated and faithful service from the Archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York / New Jersey. John took great pride in his heritage, his wife, and in all of his children and their spouses.

John is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jean Elizabeth Cooley Rinko from East Herkimer, NY; children, Diane (William) Rinko-Gay, Carol (Ian) Santoro, John (Valarie) Rinko, Jr., and Mary (Michael) Oefelein; eleven grandchildren, Timothy, Catherine, Tabitha; Austin, Colin; Emily, Michael, Alicia; Erin, Kyle, and Meagan, many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law, Mary Kate Rinko and Jean Cooley Meyer; and other relatives of his large family. He was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Anna Rinko; siblings, Anthony, Joseph, George, Mary, Paul, and Michael Jr.; and son, George (who died in infancy).

Relatives and friends may call from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the William J. Burke Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518-584-5373).

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 305 Main Road, Herkimer, under the direction of the Petykiewicz, Iocovozzi & Burns Funeral Home, Herkimer. Interment will be in SS Peter and Paul Orthodox Cemetery, Herkimer with full Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in John’s honor to The New York chapter of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) at https://www.sadd.org/donate.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com or iocovozzifuneralhomes.com