John D'Esposito

John “Johnny D” D’Esposito, an Army Reservist with the rank of Sergeant and Commercial Scrap Manager, a loving husband, father, and Poppop passed away on Sunday, Jan. 24th. He was 80 years old or as he would have said “29,475 days old.”

Johnny was born to Joseph and Mary D’Esposito on May 14th, 1940 in St. Vincent’s Hospital on Staten Island. He attended PS 44, Port Richmond High School, and the Delehanty School of Technology.

Johnny married his junior-high-school sweetheart, Dianne Raffone on October 22nd,1960. They went on their first date on Flag Day at the Ritz Movie Theatre on Staten Island. They were married for 49-years before Dianne passed away in 2009. They were the definition of a perfect pair.

Throughout his professional career, Johnny worked as a Marine Surveyor and operated his own scrap yard before finishing his career as the Northeast Commercial Manager at SIMS Metal Management, where he spent over 30 years. He didn’t retire until he was 80.

Most importantly, Johnny loved his family and never missed any of his grandchildren’s events. There wasn’t a game too small or a ceremony too big that he didn’t attend. Anyone that came into contact with Johnny was forever impacted by just his presence.

He is survived by two brothers, Joseph & Tony, a sister, Amy, his brother-in-law Arnold, three daughters, Donna, Debra & Dyann, two sons-in-law, Jeff & John, and nine grandchildren.

Extraordinary Facts for an Unbelievable Man

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A true iron man - Johnny had a quadruple by-pass at age 46, 13 stents, and a mechanical aortic valve installed in his heart throughout his lifetime.

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He wanted to become a Mechanical Engineer and loved to doodle.

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He designed all the jewelry that he would purchase for his wife and family.

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He loved Friday the 13th, he would call it his luckiest day of the year

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He broke his foot in a baseball game when he was 13 and his father made him go to work directly after - he never correctly healed that foot.

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He fell off the side of a barge into the Hudson River in the cold of January and survived by pulling himself out by a rope.

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He coined the term ‘Incadaceous’ to complement the taste of food.

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He was late for his wedding as his car broke down on his way back from picking up his tuxedo.

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At the age of 12, he had his first job of unloading trucks at the farmer’s market.

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He once fell off a crane and hung on by his wedding band.

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He was quoted in a 12-year old’s report saying - “I don’t have a role model because I didn’t want to be like anyone but myself.”