John Robert Zona

John Robert Zona, age 93, of Dennis, MA, passed away on April 25, 2026. He is survived by his wife Wendy Pearson of Beverly, MA, daughters Michelle Zona of Arlington, MA, Kate Zona of Chelsea, MA, and Kristen Zona of Beverly, MA, granddaughter Venice Mountain-Zona of Arlington, MA, sister Arline Dostoomian and her husband Ashod of Stoughton, MA, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his sister Elaine Patapanian and her husband Edward of Belmont, MA.

John and his sisters were raised in East Boston and Watertown, MA by their devoted mother Helen (Armen) Zona, an Armenian Genocide survivor. John was a talented athlete and excelled at football, baseball, and track and field. He was inducted into the Watertown High School Hall of Fame for his achievements on their football and baseball teams. John served in the US Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Europe, where he played on the US Army football team. In 1976, John moved to Cape Cod, where he managed several restaurants and nightclubs. John then owned and operated Cape Cod Produce for many years, delivering wholesale fruit and vegetables to Cape restaurants. He was affectionately known as “Johnny Produce” by his restaurant friends and “Johnny Cape” by his Chelsea Produce Market colleagues.

John was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, husband, son, and brother. He will be fondly remembered for his fiery spirit, zeal for life, sense of humor, generosity, work ethic, and resilience. He offered insightful words of wisdom with comedic delivery and had an endearing tendency to randomly break into song. John loved the ocean, seafood, red wine, playing chess and backgammon, and spending time with his family, friends, and beloved dogs, Rosie and Spaz. He courageously recovered from a life threatening ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in 2006 and his loved ones are grateful to have enjoyed 20 more years with him.

Donations in John’s honor to either of the charities that he actively supported, The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (John’s daughter Kate is a childhood cancer survivor) or the Armenian Women's Welfare Association (John’s mother Helen was a longtime member), would be greatly appreciated.

A celebration of John’s life will be held this summer (details to be announced).