On August 18th, 2026, the world lost one of its bright lights. John Dominick Bongiardina, 93, of Dade City Florida, passed peacefully in the night. We are grateful to the Rucki Hospice Care Center in Zephyrhills for making his final days comfortable.

John was born on September 18th, 1932, in Brooklyn, NY. His parents, Vincent and Marie, had three other children- Joseph, Millie, and Anthony. He was veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving for 2 years. He later attended Pace University where he honed his business skills.

John was an accomplished salesman for over 40 years. His personality- once described as “ebullient” in a company profile- made him a natural salesman. You were not only his client, you were his friend. He took great care in remembering details about every one of his customers.

John leaves behind a large extended family. He is survived by his wife of 52 wonderful years, Betty, 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his three siblings, and a multitude of dogs and cats who were well loved and well fed.

His gritty beginning on the streets and docks of Brooklyn was to shape who John was and what he was to become. As a young man, he made the critical decision to better himself through hard work and perseverance. He was the quintessential self-made man.

John made every life he touched better. He never forgot his lean start in life, and was generous to all, especially his family. Many found a twenty-dollar bill pressed into their hands when they were struggling. He loved to have the entire family over for a cookout on the weekend. Many of us found a love for good Italian sausage there. Some of us are still trying to find a love for calamari.

To John, family was everything. His humble beginnings made him a kind and loving patriarch. His words of wisdom helped so many of us as we navigated the sometimes rough waters of life.

Even though John has left the physical world, he lives on in our hearts and lives. His legacy is kindness, humor, fairness, and generosity. We will miss his contagious laugh, his jokes, and countless stories of his family and early life that made him who he was.

Per his wishes, John will be cremated and his ashes scattered at a Celebration of Life in NH.

Wherever John is, I’m sure he is giving Willy the Cat an extra-large shrimp.