John J. Esposito, Sr.

John lived a life of faithful service to his country, community, and family.

In 1943, while still a teenager, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he fought in four major battles in the Pacific Theater, including at Roi Namur and Saipan. At the Battle of Iwo Jima, John’s division (the 25thMarine Regiment of the 4thMarine Division) was the first to land on the beach, where he was wounded in battle. For his service in World War II, John was awarded, among other medals and commendations, the Asiatic Campaign Medal (4 stars) and the Purple Heart.

After returning home to Danbury, John continued to work and serve in his community. He worked at the Danbury Post Office and later at Green Funeral Home. He volunteered with many veteran organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Catholic War Veterans, the American Legion, and the Marine Corp League. For more than 60 years, he was a volunteer firefighter with Wooster Hose in Danbury, where he wore everything from a captain’s hat to a chef’s apron. In the late 1980s, John was elected to the Danbury City Council, where he served 14 consecutive terms (27 years), making him the longest-serving Councilman in Danbury history. For his service to his community, John received the Civic Award from the Danbury Old Timers in 2015.

John was a role-model, a mentor, and a friend to many. He brought a traditional sense of honor and commitment to all of his public duties. Among friends and colleagues, his dignified, yet humble and good-natured personality earned him the nickname, “Gentleman John.”

But to his family, he was “Poppie” – a loving and ever faithful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who will be deeply missed. His favorite moments in life were spent with his family, whether roller-skating with his wife Geneva, teaching his children and grandchildren to ride horses, or simply sharing a meal at his home in Danbury.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Geneva (Green) Esposito, his sister Mary (Esposito) Rickert, his nephew Terry Rickert, his grandsons Jesse Esposito, Mark Esposito, and Anthony Esposito, and his daughter-in-law Lillian Esposito.

He is survived by his children: Michael (Susan) Esposito, Daniel Esposito, Nancy (John) Mietelski, Diane Felicissimo (Bob Moceri), Deborah (Tim) Fast, and John (Lisa) Esposito II; his brother-in-law Richie Green; his nephew Barry Rickert, many nieces and nephews from the Green, Kurpinski, and Undella families; and his 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Monday, July 19, 2021 at St. Peter Church, Danbury. Burial with full military honors will follow in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.

Friends will be received from 3:00pm-6:00pm on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury.

In lieu of flowers, donations honoring John can be made to the Wooster Hose Co., 7 Coalpit Hill Rd., Danbury, CT 06810; the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association/Hospice, 27 Governor St., Ridgefield, CT 06877; the Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Southington, CT 06489; Danbury Hospital Cardiology Department, c/o Western CT Health Network Foundation, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06810; or to the Make a Wish Foundation, 56 Commerce Dr., Trumbull, CT 06611