John Joseph Blando

John Joseph Blando, of Kansas City, Missouri, was called to eternal rest on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. He was born on March 7, 1940, to Joseph and Dominica Blando, who emigrated from Sicily. John was deeply proud of his Sicilian heritage, often sharing stories from his childhood growing up in the North End and Pendleton Heights neighborhoods of Kansas City.

John graduated from De La Salle High School in 1957 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business from Central Missouri State University. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1961, serving from 1961 to 1968—two years of active duty and five years in the reserves. As part of the Marine Air Wing Division, he was stationed in Los Alamitos, California, where he served as a radio operator on a P3 Orion submarine hunter. John was awarded a Commendation for Sharpshooting and proudly served during the Cuban Missile Crisis, stationed aboard an aircraft carrier off the coast of Florida during the 13-day standoff. He was always immensely proud of his service and the honor of being a Marine.

In 1960, John met Jean Fogarty while they were both working at the original Jones Store on 12th & Main in Kansas City. They married in 1963 and celebrated 61 years of marriage before his passing. Together, they raised three daughters in South Kansas City, Missouri.

John founded Electronic Marketing Associates, Inc. (EMA) in 1972, where he dedicated his career to representing the home audio industry. For 50 years, he was highly regarded as a manufacturer's representative, earning numerous industry awards. John was particularly proud of his long-standing partnership with Yamaha Corporation of America, which took him to their international headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan—an experience he often reminisced about fondly. He continued to run EMA until his passing, famously vowing never to retire.

A lover of Italian food and culture, John often delighted family and friends with his homemade sauces and authentic Sicilian dishes. He had a true passion for Italian cuisine and could recommend the best Italian restaurants in any city. An avid reader, fisherman, classical music aficionado, and world traveler, John enjoyed exploring the United States, as well as France, Italy, and Mexico. He cherished many fishing trips with friends to Canada and New Orleans. His love for the ocean, nature, fine wine, Persian rugs, and sports cars was matched only by his loyalty to the Kansas City Chiefs. John held season tickets for over 50 years and attended the longest NFL game ever played—the Chiefs vs. Dolphins on Christmas Day 1971. He was overjoyed to witness the Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl victories alongside his family. John also loved the Royals, recalling fond memories of attending games with his father and brother at the old Municipal Stadium.

Above all, John’s greatest pride and joy was his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Dominica Blando; his brother, Manuel Blando; and his sister, Marie Cull. He is survived by his loving wife, Jean; daughters Mary Beth Russell (Greg), Stephanie Caine (Jeff), and Christie Dennis (Chris); and seven beloved grandchildren: Jessica and Ryan Russell, Elizabeth and Nicole Caine, and Caroline, Colin, and Christopher Dennis. In his later years, John found great joy in attending his grandchildren’s sports events and musical performances, earning a reputation as a proud and devoted “Papa.”

John was a man who never knew a stranger. His warmth, generosity, and kindness touched the lives of all who knew him. His smile, embrace, positive energy, and sage advice will be deeply missed. Yet, his legacy of love, family, and friendship will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate to have known him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 10:30 AM, with visitation starting at 9:30 AM, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11822 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. A luncheon will follow. Inurnment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS, at a later date. Flowers are welcome, and donations may be made to St. Labre Indian School, www.stlabre.org, an organization that was close to John's heart.