John “Johnny” went home to his Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the age of 89. He passed away peacefully in his home in Cooper City, FL on March 28, 2023 surrounded by his Family and Angels and was welcomed by his Beloved wife, Virginia. He was born on April 22,1933 in Buffalo, NY to his parents, the late Samuel and Bronislawa “Bertha” Smaldino. Johnny was the eldest to his brother, the late Robert (Patricia) Smaldino. He attended Layfette High School in Buffalo NY where he met his beloved, Virginia “Ginny” D’Auria. They were married on June 11, 1955 and moved to South Florida in 1964.
While working in the airline industry for over 20 years, John moved his family from Miami to Cooper City, where he embarked on his second career with the City of Pembroke Pines, Crime Scene Unit until his final retirement in 1998.
John was a parishioner of Visitation Catholic Church (Miami) and St. Mark Catholic Church (SW Ranches). He enjoyed fishing, boating, camping, playing a variety of instruments, singing, dancing, traveling, playing cards, and a good joke! Most of all, he loved spending time with Family and Friends. John felt most relaxed and happy at his home in Key Largo where the sun always kissed his skin. Those who have met John will never forget him. “A man’s friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.”
He is survived by his loving daughters, Lynn, Joanne (William), Diane (Jack) and Patricia; his Grandchildren, Anthony (Mayra), Paul (Stacy), Michael, Rachael, Nicole, James, Gina and Jackson; his Great-Grandchildren, Madison, Christian, Noah, Jonathan and Benjamin; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and his Extended Family, Patrick (Mashawn), Andrew (Valy), Jada (Jesse), Nalanni, Danica, Keira and Timothy.
Visitation will take place on Tuesday, April 18th, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. with a Tribute of a Lifetime Service from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, University Drive Chapel. Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, April 19 th, 1:00pm at St. Mark Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life Picnic on what would have been John’s 90th birthday, April 22, at Oak Hill Equestrian Park, 3200 SW 130 Ave., Davie, FL 33330.
In Lieu of flowers, John requested a donation in his honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St.Jude Children’s Hospital Research Fund: https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=7923076&pg=personal&fr_id=39300
For those unable to attend the service, the family is offering LIVE streaming of the Service on Tuesday, April 18th, beginning at 7:30 PM. The link to attend the LIVE SERVICE is on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at: BOYD-PANCIERA FAMILY FUNERAL CARE
Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care
Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care
St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church
Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
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Mottaa@bellsouth.net
March 31, 2023, 5:42 pm
Just wanted to let you know that we’re thinking of the family and praying for you all. We will miss him.
Maria and Marc Jacquemin
April 3, 2023, 5:58 pm
Thinking of you all and sending much love and prayers your way.
Johnny now that you and Ginny are reunited I know you are singing and dancing so beautifully together again.
We will all miss you here but… we will all meet again and pick up from there!
sabeen raja
April 3, 2023, 6:11 pm
My deepest condolences. Thinking of you all. Sending you lots of love!
Harriet Weiss
April 3, 2023, 7:56 pm
Thinking of all of you. Your Dad was such a delight and a pleasure to call my friend. He will be missed by so many. Harriet Weiss
Bonnie Sommerhoff
April 3, 2023, 8:39 pm
Love and prayers go out to family and friends of our dear friend and neighbor in Key Largo. I’m sure Ginny will be welcoming him with open arms.🙏❣️🙏
Anthony Fitzgerald
April 4, 2023, 10:28 pm
Love you Papa! I’ll miss you more than you’ll ever know. Thank you for everything you’ve taught me. You showed me how to be a man, a husband and a father, but more importantly the many, many uses of duct tape. Mayra, Jonathan, Benji and I love you very much and always have you in our thoughts. You will live in our memories and hearts until the end of time.
Rick and Maggie
April 6, 2023, 1:27 am
Our sincere condolences. We were blessed to have met you. We have many wonderful memories of our time together. A true gentleman. I can see you now opening that door for Ginny.
Dallas Englehart
April 6, 2023, 3:07 am
John you will be greatly missed at the MOSM activities. But you are going to a better place to serve our Lord. I and others will miss you greatly. It was a pleasure working with serving the church.
Fr Luis GGarcia
April 6, 2023, 4:19 am
My dear Smaldino family accept my condolences at this time of sorrow.
I will offer 3 masses for John and for your consolation.
My prayers, blessing and love to the entire family.
Fr. Luis G Garcia
Catherine Nash Cirocco
April 6, 2023, 11:31 am
My deepest sympathy to his family.
It must be comforting for them to know that he is finally reunited with
his loving wife, Ginny.
Bill & Karen MacDermod
April 6, 2023, 1:33 pm
Bill & I send our love and prayers for your family. We knew your Mom & Dad from the Casita Club. They were thr life of the party and a joy to be with. We are privileged to have had thrm in our lives for thr time God gave us. We know he is happy to be in glhid eternal home with Ginny and Jesus and all the saints that are in heaven
God bless you all and your parents will be very present at your celebration on April 22!!!!!! Love thr MacDermods.
Paulette D’Angelo Vitale
April 6, 2023, 7:21 pm
Penetrating big blue eyes and a heart FILLED w love for others accompanies my forever memories of that voice, smile, and perfectly-timed hugs. A spirit of peace the example of the message of Jesus lives on.
Paulette (D’Angelo) Vitale
John Canada
April 8, 2023, 9:30 pm
It is with an abundance of sorrow that we say good by to our big hearted friend and one of the Three Amigos.
Our hearts are saddened beyond belief but because John was such a wonderful Dad, husband, friend and person, he has left us with many happy and joy filled memories.
Memories that we will cherish forever!
Margaret T Kauffman
April 9, 2023, 4:20 pm
One of my favorite people, you always made me feel welcome when I was around and part of the family 🥰
Ginny be happy you are with her 🙏🏻
The girls will miss you 😢, what an amazing friend , father ….. person .
RIP
Danny Laguna
April 9, 2023, 11:53 pm
Hey John, I really miss you a lot my friend & best neighbor ever. You have a very special place in my heart. Thank you for all the conversations we had on your front porch or at my house. Thank you for always stopping to talk to me while on your way to church etc etc. Thank you for loving my three dogs that adored you.
In my eyes you had a blessed life and a blessed beautiful family. You and Ginny would travel everywhere and I complimented you repeatedly on how blessed you both were. You both were always smiling. What a beautiful couple.
I miss texting or calling you, I miss you texting me and calling you. I miss just hanging out with you and sipping on whiskey on the rocks or your favorite gin & tonic with lemon. You were an amazing man John and I told you that just before you passed away. You told me I was also. I will try my best to me as good as a man as you were. Miss you buddy. RIP 🙏
Becky and Melissa Yarb
April 10, 2023, 3:06 pm
To the whole Smaldino family, from your next door neighbors for 40+ years, we will miss John as we’ve missed Ginny who’s been waiting for you. No one could have ever asked for better friends and neighbors. We have shared family ups and downs over these many years and admired the love of your family and friends which was so apparent to all who know you. You’ve been an example of how to live a Christian life and have a great time doing it. We will continue to be here for you all as we grieve with you and beyond. We know both John and Ginny are looking down from a joyful peaceful life forevermore. Becky and Melissa Yarb
Anthony Fitzgerald
April 10, 2023, 10:51 pm
I love you Papa, no amount of duct tape can patch the hole created by your passing. Thank you for everything you’ve taught me. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without your guidance.
KH
April 12, 2023, 4:42 pm
Rest in peace John. Your Pembroke Pines PD family will miss you dearly. ❤️
Joseph Smaldino
April 13, 2023, 9:23 pm
Johnny can it be true?
I’ll no longer talk and laugh with you.
Your recollections of our family were precious though.
Things without you we would never know.
Cousins separated by time and space.
Our chats miraculously simply erased.
So I’ll continue to talk and laugh with you
In my heart and memories too
Juli Krebs
April 18, 2023, 7:45 pm
Love to the Smaldino Family. What a beautiful life he had. I just watched this photographic tribute and was brought to tears. He was blessed to have you all, as you were to have him. May he rest in peace with his much loved Ginny. Gary and Juli Krebs
Elizabeth zayas
April 18, 2023, 8:01 pm
I’m sorry Paul about your grandfather. I cant make it to see him but please send my condolences to your mother and aunts.
Maria Doty
April 19, 2023, 12:17 am
What a beautiful tribute to your dad. He was always smiling and so sweet. Diane, you and your family are in my thoughts, heart and prayers..❤️
Sanford Allen
April 27, 2023, 4:41 pm
Our deepest condolences go out to the Smaldino family. We camped many times with John and Ginny over the years and we thoroughly enjoyed the humor and conversations with John about family and life in general. Mary and I will miss him dearly. Mary and Sanford Allen