John M. Varela

January 8, 1935 - January 22, 2022

John M. Varela was born on January 8, 1935 in La Coruña, Spain. He graduated from Christ the King Marist High School in June of 1953, where he excelled academically and athletically. He arrived in New York in 1955, after living in Caracas, Venezuela for 2 years. He attended Cascadilla Prep School in Ithaca, New York where he improved his command of English. After obtaining a New York State Regents Diploma, he graduated with an accounting degree from Becker College in Worcester, Mass. While at Becker, he met the love of his life, Gloria Wade. After a short courtship, they were married in Worcester’s St. Paul Cathedral on December 26, 1957. In June of 1958, he joined the worldwide firm of Guy Carpenter & Co., New York (reinsurance brokerage) where he started as an accounting clerk and rose to senior vice president in charge of Reinsurance Accounting. After 36 years with the firm, he retired and he and Gloria moved to Cornelius, North Carolina. Seven years after his retirement, John lost many friends and colleagues in the World Trade Center’s terrorist attacks of September 11th. Survivors are his wife Gloria, daughters Victoria Marie Shank (Donald Shank) of Denver, NC, Theresa Varela Andreucci (Robert Andreucci) of Coopersburg, PA, and his son, John P. Varela (Tammy Varela) of Cumming, GA. Grandchildren Danielle Griffin (Justin Griffin) , Donald S. Shank (Bethany Shank), David Shank, Nina Andreucci and Amanda Andreucci. He is also survived by his nieces, Angela María Seijas, María Jesús Seijas, María Eugenia Varela, Chichy Varela, Ana María Varela, his nephew, Jesús Varela, and their families. A Celebration of Life will be held in Charlotte, NC on Saturday, April 16, 2022. if anyone is interested in attending, please contact the family.