John Salvatore Cavallaro

Portland, ME

John Salvatore Cavallaro Sr., 83 years old, known as "Nina" to his family and friends died peacefully Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at the Gosnell Hospice House surrounded by his loving family.

John was born in Portland on September 7, 1929 one of ten children to Carmine and Catherine (Esposito) Cavallaro, immigrants from Sorrento and Naples Italy that moved to Munjoy Hill in the early 1900s seeking a new life and the start of a beautiful family.

John attended Portland schools and was a lifelong communicant of St. Peter's Church. John proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS Orion. Upon his return to the States John worked for James A. McBrady Co. as a sheet metal worker for over 22 years until the entrepreneurial spirit hit him and he ventured out on his own. For the next 20 years John developed his skill into an art form, and to date most of his copper work can still be seen in the sky's of Portland.

In 1956 John married the love of his life Maxine (Thibodeau) Cavallaro. They would share their love for each other for the next 56 years and raise a beautiful family together. Their family, along with all their extended family would spend Sunday's together playing bocce, or cards, telling tales, and of course sharing a meal together as was tradition to so many in the Italian neighborhood. Johns love of family was the most important aspect of his life, a legacy that will carry on with his children and grandchildren.

John was predeceased by an infant son Daniel, six bothers and three sisters.

Surviving is his loving wife Maxine (Thibodeau) Cavallaro of Portland; four daughters, Mae-Marie Casparius and her husband Andrew of Tempe, AZ, Linda Ann Prescott and her husband Peter of Newmarket, MD, Debra Jean Raspiller and her husband Wesley of Westbrook, ME, Lori Anne Fasulo and her husband Brian of Portland, ME; a son, John S. Cavllaro Jr. and his wife Rosemary of New Gloucester, ME; twelve grandchildren, one great-grandson, and several nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

A period of visitation for John and his family will be held this Friday, October 5, 2012 from 5 to 8 pm at the Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial for John will be celebrated on Saturday the 6th at 9:00 am at St. Peter's Church, 72 Federal St. Portland. Commital services will follow Mass at Calvary Cemetery in So. Portland.

Johns family would like to thank the Maine Medical Center Emergency Room and R4 Staff, and the entire family of caregivers at the Gosnell Memorial House and Hospice of Southern Maine for their loving and compassionate care to John throughout this difficult time. In lieu of flowers the Cavallaro family suggests memorial donations be made in Johns honor to the Gosnell Memorial House, c/o Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route One, #1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Care for John and his family has been entrusted to the Jones Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, Portland, ME.