John Mitanna with his '73 Buick Riviera.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR - John and Joyce Mitana

Periodically during the year we will feature a Lake Suzy Estate resident or residents who make a difference in our community. This month the spotlight is on John and Joyce Mitana.

(This article was written by Don and Lee Royston and appeared in the December 3rd edition of the Charlotte Sun. Permission to reprint the article was received.) To see an enlarged photo of John and "Riv" simply double click inside the picture.

While out and around at various car events a semi rare Buick Riviera caught my eye.

When I say semi rare, it's because there are few of them remaining today, despite so many having been manufactured. The reason for this "shrinkage" is the 1980 model series was plagued with electrical problems and rust. Poor or very poor gas mileage on the big 455-cubic-inch engine in most 1973 Rivieras caused them to be "retired" or scrapped early.

John's "boat-tail" styled Riviera is a one-owner car from the Buick dealership in Emmaus, PA, bought right off the showroom floor and delivered Nov. 15, 1973 to John and Joyce Mitana of Allentown. John said "it was a real deal" due to the gas crisis when buyers were very few for any big-engine automobile.

Both Mr. and Mrs. liked special cars going back to the first one he owned, a new 1961 Buick LaSabre convertible purchased just after John was discharged from the Navy. Next came a 1965 Riviera and, over the 50 years of marriage, dozens of classy forms of transporttion. This one remains and has 47,000 miles amounting to an average of only 1,240 per year.

Soon after getting married, Joyce worked for Bethlehem Steel; however, when children John and Diane came along, she thought it was more important to be a full-time mother and homemaker. Both had grown up in the same vicinity and vowed to stay there to work in that area until retirement, which he did with Lucent Technologies for 39 years as manager of Construction and Maintenance. That position, plus 26 years total in the Navy Reserve, kept this hardworking fellow's nose to the grindstone. Now, free of all that, he and Joyce are enjoying life in their beautiful Lake Suzy Estates home. The word "schedule" is seldom heard in their conversation since crossing the retirement threshold.

Joyce and John are very proud of their children, the Riveria and their lifestyle Floridian.

Watch for them and "Riv" at the local cruise-ins(and around Lake Suzy)!

EDITORS NOTE: John recently served on the LSPOA Board of Directors. Thanks John and Joyce for all you do!