The Life and Adventures of Come-Along John

About the Book

As far back as he could remember, John had always been late. For breakfast, for school, even for Sunday afternoon rides with his parents and older brother to get ice cream cones – he was last in line. Behind his younger brother, too. His mother had to hurry him so often, she got tired of saying, “Come along, John.” For his ninth birthday, John got a greeting card from his brother with those words on the envelope, and the nickname stuck. Life in 1950, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was certainly an adventure for John. From meeting Red Sox legend, Ted Williams, to escaping an oncoming train on the Bridge over Nashua River, Come-Along John may have arrived late, but he always seemed to get there just in the nick of time!

About the Author

John P. Catalini was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He grew up in Ashby, Massachusetts amidst a rich Italian heritage which included his parents, Dominic and Irma Catalini, his two brothers, Richard and James, and boisterous aunts, uncles and cousins. After graduating from Fitchburg State University with a Master’s Degree in Education, he taught High School English for many years before becoming a professor at Westfield State College and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He moved to California where he taught at Santa Barbara City College and the University of California at Santa Barbara. He will forever be missed by his four children: Mia, Daniel, Jason and Jonathan. His five grandchildren: Joshua, Kristina, Cecilia, Benjamin and Sydney will carry on their Pepe’s legacy.