John J. Maria, 75: Horses Were His Life

John J. Maria Sr., formerly of Bensalem, died on Friday. He was 75.

A resident of Bensalem for 40 years, horses were his life. As a young boy, his mother sent him to the store to buy milk and he came home with a horse, beginning more than 40 years of training and owning race horses. 

He was a fixture at Philadelphia Park, now known as Parx Racing. After the training day had ended Mr. Maria could be found at the Clubhouse Diner with his friends.

He was the husband of the late Diane (nee Jones), father of John J. Jr, Lisa (Greg) Bouchard and the late Dean (Val) and Nancy (John) and grandfather of Danielle (Danny), Dean (Jill), Aaron (Heather), Johnny (Vanessa), Tammy, Dylan, Michelle, David and Dana. He was the great-grandfather of Daniel, Devin, Dean, Anthony, Jenna, Aiden, Anthony, Julia and Maximus. 

Relatives, friends, trainers and employees of Parx racing are invited to his memorial service Friday at 11 a.m. at Parx Racing Recreation Hall, 2786 Galloway Road in Bensalem.