John Vozza, Jr.

John Vozza, Jr., age 61 of West Milford, passed away on Monday, April 29, 2019. His family was lovingly by his side at the time of this passing.

Born in Teaneck, NJ, John grew up in Ringwood where, as a teenager, he was a lifeguard at Cupsaw Lake. John was a graduate of Lakeland High School with the class of 1975.

After attending New Jersey Institute of Technology for a year, John entered the workforce in the emerging computer and information systems field. John’s first job was working for Sears in their electronics repair center. In 1986, he took a position as a Regional Repair Manager with Sony Corporation and remained there until 1993 when he started his own business venture. In 2006, John took his career in a different direction working for JMA Consultants of Englewood Cliffs. His company took on apartment renovation projects in New York City and John made sure that all building codes were complied with. He had been working in that capacity until illness prevented him from continuing.

While working at Sony, John met a young woman by the name of Patricia Dorato. It was Pat who asked John to join her one evening for dinner. They went to Tiffany’s on Route 17 in Ramsey and began a loving friendship that culminated in marriage on Saturday, April 29, 1989 at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Kinnelon. With both John and Patricia having a true love for the sun and water, a honeymoon to Hawaii turned out to be the perfect way to start off married life. Happily, April 29 was their wedding anniversary but sadly April 29 was also the day John passed away – 30 years after exchanging wedding vows of “for better or worse, in health and in sickness.” Pat and John were truly grateful for those thirty years of marriage and Pat faithfully stood by John’s side, loving and encouraging him through the ups and downs John faced beginning with a cancer diagnosis in 2010.

One of John and Pat’s most enjoyable shared activities started with a pair of jet skis in 2000. Over the ensuing years, they incrementally stepped it up a bit – first with a 24 foot boat, then a 28 footer, 40 footer, and finally a 52 foot Silverton, which they affectionately named “Wake-n-Waves”. Harbored in Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City that boat literally became their summer home. Wake-n-Waves took them to wonderful destinations including Block Island in Rhode Island, Fire Island off Long Island, NY, Martha’s Vineyard, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in Maryland and as far as Newberry Port in Massachusetts to visit Patricia’s mother and sister.

Whether on his boat or home in West Milford, John’s faithful Border Collie named Jake and West Highland Terrier named Riley were always an enjoyable presence by his side. John loved Jake’s incredible show of intelligence. For example, when they hiked, Jake could tell left from right. So if they came to a fork in the trail, John could tell Jake to go left and Jake correctly went left every time. Jake also knew the names of his twenty toys and would bring John the one John requested. John and Jake loved swimming off the side of the boat and Jake was such a faithful companion through much of the time John was fighting cancer. When John asked Jake for a hug, he’d promptly jump up and put his front paws on John’s shoulders and snuggle into him. It took Jake about four months to get used to Riley but once he did, they were the best of buddies. In fact, Riley even had a miniature stuffed border collie named Jake that he would carry around.

John also took up the very interesting hobby of 3D printing. He printed all kinds of three dimensional objects including vases, cartoon characters and figurines of Jake and Riley. He would even print parts to upgrade his 3D printer. Always hungry to learn more, John loved to watch the Discovery Channel on television with favorite shows including How it’s Made and Gold Rush.

Although he could be a bit sarcastic and opinionated at times, when it came right down to it, you couldn’t find a bigger mush or a more kind-hearted person. His mere presence alone will be greatly missed.      

John was the beloved husband of Patricia (nee Dorato), blessed in marriage for 30 years to the day; loving father of: Michael and wife Kate Vozza of Morrisville, PA, and Lisa Hammond of Morrisville, PA; much-loved son of John Vozza, Sr. and his wife Natasha of Burke, VA and much-loved son of the late Stephini Vozza (1991); dear brother of Steven Vozza of Chester, VA; and dear uncle of Therese Pymento, Dana Pymento, Valerie Vozza, Gregory Vozza, and Elizabeth Spencer-Vozza.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTION INFORMATION

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in John’s name are asked to consider American Cancer Society, NJ Chapter, 986 South Springfield Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081, or click here to donate online.