BEVERLY: John J. Tognazzi, 69, died Sunday, November 7, 2010, surrounded by his family in the Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem following an extended illness.
Born in Gloucester on July 20, 1941, he was the son of the late Albert N., Sr., and Mary E. (Hunt) Tognazzi. A graduate of Gloucester High School class of 1959, John had resided in Gloucester for many years before moving to Beverly over thirty years ago.
John was the former proprietor of Tognazzi Monuments in Gloucester and Beverly for over fifty years. He was a member of the Italian Community Center in Beverly. An avid swimmer, he loved to spend time at the beach.
He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, John J., Jr. and Michele (Orlando) Tognazzi of Essex and James A. and Janet (DePiero) Tognazzi of Tuftonboro, NH and Beverly; seven grandchildren, Melanie R., Alex J. and Jacob M. Tognazzi all of Essex, Christopher James and Sean Albert Tognazzi both of Salem, Joshua Hunt of Littleton, NH and Jesse DePiero of Tuftonboro; a sister, Maura E. and her husband, Joseph D. Rolfe of Newbury; two sisters-in-law, Barbara N. Tognazzi and Grace M. Tognazzi both of Gloucester; a dear friend, Karen Sergenton of Danvers and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was also predeceased by his daughter, Annette Tognazzi and three brothers, Albert N. Tognazzi, Jr., Edward T. Tognazzi and Charles E. Tognazzi.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Funeral services will be privately held in the Calvary Cemetery, Gloucester. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the American Lung Assoc., 460 Totten Pond Rd., Suite 400, Waltham, MA 02451-1991.