John Michael Cordani

John was a man of faith and was deeply loved by his wife Esther, children Michael, Mark & Nicole, son-in-law Matthew, daughter-in-law Puli, grandchildren Angelica, Andrew & Bruno, brother Gino, and many more family & friends.

John was a proud Italian New Yorker, a local tennis champion, a bolognese lover, a passionate educator (“always respected, never forgotten” should be etched in his classroom), a sharp taxi driver, a natural gardener (you should see his tomatoes), an animal lover, and an anagram wizard.

Raised in post-war Hell’s Kitchen, John didn’t have the easiest start in life but he’d sprinkle in moments of joy like showering at the local YMCA to look good for his Friday school dances. He could dance - really dance - and won awards with his wife Esther! If there was a dance floor, they were the first on it.

John took his food game very seriously - meats, cheeses, breads, and greens were his thing. A clean plate meant a return to the kitchen for more! We will always treasure his beloved family torta recipe.

He frequently supported hole-in-the-wall diners, polishing off multiple cups of coffee before 8am with a roll with butter. He wasn’t picky as long as it had carbs in it! A good chat is what he was after (one-liners all day). He’d always tell us, “You’ll have lots of acquaintances in your life, but very few friends”. He knew how to distinguish the difference.

We’ll remember his green CRV with 300k miles driving up the winding roads to our country house in the Poconos - his ultimate retreat surrounded by the mountains. He’d love taking our family dogs on country drives, picking them up, and snuggling them.

He brought unconditional love into the home. His house was filled with life - a plethora of smells emanating from the kitchen, fireplaces roaring, and Sinatra playing at high volumes.

In the end, John fought for 5 months battling leukemia, infections, and everything in between, and we will always cherish him. More than anything, we’ll remember his sneaky morning trips for bagels, family feasts at Umberto’s Restaurant in New Hyde Park, and memorable trips to Montana, Mexico, Australia, and Europe. Memories that we will carry with us forever.

We thank John for those experiences and for being an amazing human.

John, you can rest knowing that you changed our lives and we will cherish that until we see you on the other side with the rest of our family and loved ones who were lucky to have you in their lives. We love you for eternity. Your family.