AMES, JOHN O., 88, of Orlando, passed away peacefully at his home on July 14, 2003. Born on February 14, 1915, in Duluth, Minnesota, he was five years old when his father died, and the small family returned to his mother's roots in Europe. He grew up in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, where he pioneered the sport of basketball, even translating the rules into Serbo-Croatian. After World War II, he brought his wife and two children to the United States, settling in New York City. He worked 28 years for Chemical Bank, now J.P. Morgan Chase, and retired as an officer of the bank in 1980. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Vera; a son and daughter-in-law, John L. and Eileen S. Ames of Kennesaw, GA; a daughter and son-in-law, Vera A. and Gary H. Rushmer of Orlando; and four grandchildren, David L. Ames of Dublin, OH, Jerry I. Ames of Chicago, IL, Elizabeth R. Tolla of Norwalk, CT, and Susan R. Stauffer of Ocean City, NJ. There will be a memorial service at 11AM on Friday, July 18th, in the Reformation Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church, on Magnolia Avenue, between Jackson and Church Street. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Epilepsy Association of Central Florida, 22 Lake Beauty Drive, Orlando, FL 32806. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home Ivanhoe Chapel, 301 NE Lake Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804 407-898-8111. Please view and sign guestbook at www.baldwinfairchildfuneral.com.