John A. Storella (97), of Medford, MA, passed away peacefully April 15, 2022. Born November 4, 1924 to Alfonso and Tommasina Storella, of Boston, John took great pride in his Italian heritage. He cherished his younger brothers, Thomas and Robert, who both survive him. In high school, John played clarinet for the Mount Carmel Church marching band. He graduated from Boston Latin School in 1942.
John joined the Navy during World War II. Despite chronic seasickness, he rose to second in command of LSM 548, a landing ship with a crew of 140, and remained in the Naval Reserves until 1952. John graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1947 and Columbia University Dental School in New York in 1951 and supported both schools throughout his life.
John returned to East Boston and set up a dental practice. For 43 years, he served the families and friends of his community. In 1954, John wed Marianne Amico, an East Boston girl and his dental assistant. They settled in Medford, and John lived in the same house on Metcalf Street until his passing. He retired in 1996. In 1999, he lost Marianne.
John is survived by their four children and their partners: John (Lisa Aliferis); Janet (Andrew Karron); Mark (Anne Huvos); and James (Michael Sweeney). John impressed on his children from an early age the importance of education.
John was active in Medford politics and gave spirited commentary at Medford City Council meetings. He worked on a system to win at craps and believed he was on the verge of perfecting it. He loved poetry – particularly, the works of Emily Dickinson – and wrote many poems himself.
He found new love with Jane Griffin of Walpole, a childhood friend, who survives him. John is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Julia Karron, Lucas Karron, Ziggy Storella, Théo Storella, Lydia Storella and Dominic Storella, and many close cousins, nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, April 21, from 4 through 8 PM in the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford. A funeral will be held on Friday, April 22, at 9 AM, followed by a mass celebrated in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 118 High St., Medford, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John’s name to Boston Latin School or Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.