Lifelong Passion for Autobody Work Leads 73-Year-Old Mount Airy Resident Back to the Classroom
For John Mittman of Mount Airy, age is no barrier to learning—or to restoring cars. At 73, Mittman is in his third year of the Autobody program at Surry Community College, where he’s not only refining his craft but also inspiring classmates of all ages with his dedication, humor, and lifelong love of vehicles.
“I plan on being here until they run me off,” Mittman jokes. “I’ve got five grandkids, and I’m trying to do five vehicles. Luckily, they’re spaced out.”
Mittman’s journey began at age six, hanging around Walter “Ting” Jarvis’s body shop on South Main Street in Mount Airy. “I’d run errands, hold brakes, and Ting would fill my hands with change,” he recalls. “That’s what got me started.”
After graduating from Mount Airy High School in 1970, serving in the Army, studying Electronics at Surry Community College and working over 25 years in telecommunications, Mittman returned to Surry to study autobody.
Over the past three years, Mittman has tackled several restoration projects – a 2004 Nissan Maxima, a 2009 Toyota Corolla, a 2020 Toyota Camry. His upcoming projects include a 1988 Ford Aerostar van, a Toyota truck, a Chevy truck, a dump truck, and possibly a Suburban he’s considering flipping.
“I’d love to find a ’55 or ’56 Chevy pickup for a show car,” he says. “I rebuilt the engine on the van when I was taking engine classes at Surry. It only has 18 miles on it.”
Mittman’s work ethic is matched by his appreciation for the program’s atmosphere. “It’s like a barber shop atmosphere – no pressure, no textbooks. You work at your own pace. The instructors are great. They’re ‘Johnny on the spot’ with help.”
He’s especially inspired by the mix of students. “Half the guys are 70 plus and taking their time. The younger ones are more into painting. You get all kinds of help.”
Though he’s painted over 100 cars in his lifetime, Mittman prefers the finishing and problem-solving side of autobody work. “I’m not crazy about painting,” he admits. “But I love making a car slick and correcting issues.”
His passion for learning extends beyond cars. He’s taken brick masonry classes, studied business at Rutgers College, and is an avid gardener and baker. “I grow squash, zucchini, kale, tomatoes, and bake pound cakes. I even have a sign on my van that says, ‘Will fish for food.’”
Mittman’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and community. “I never marched when I graduated electronics,” he says. “I’d like to march at least once.” He is one psychology class away from getting a second degree at SCC.
Surry Community College celebrates lifelong learners like John Mittman, whose journey reminds us that it’s never too late to pursue your passion—and that sometimes, the best classrooms are filled with the hum of compressors, the smell of fresh paint, and the laughter of friends.
