John L. Arado; Retired Market Owner

John L. Arado, a retired convenience store owner who ran for Los Angeles mayor in 1977, has died at a Burbank hospital. He was 76.

The Burbank resident died Sunday of complications of diabetes and heart problems, said his wife, Carolyn Arado.

Born in Chicago, he served as a first sergeant in the Army during World War II and moved to California in 1952. From 1968 until his retirement in 1979, Arado owned and operated Bamford Liquor in North Hollywood. With no political involvement except his membership in the North Hollywood Homeowners Assn., Arado decided to run for mayor in 1977. He finished seventh in a field of 12 that included incumbent Mayor Tom Bradley, tax protester Howard Jarvis and state Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana).

“After nine years in the grocery business hearing people complain about civic problems, I decided to get involved,” Arado said in a Times interview after the election.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years.

Visitation is planned from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Forest Lawn Mortuary, 1712 S. Glendale Ave. in Glendale, which is handling the arrangements. A vigil service is planned for 7:30 p.m. tonight at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 3801 Scott Road, Burbank.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Xavier, with burial at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park in Glendale. Donations can be made in Arado’s name to the American Diabetes Assn. or the American Heart Assn.