John Godman

John P. Godman, 93, died peacefully at his home in Sarasota, FL, on Nov. 30, 2023. He was the devoted husband of Edith Rossi, who predeceased him in 2018. They married in 1954 and raised four children in New Jersey and Northern Virginia.

John was warm, witty, creative, charismatic, and the center of his large family. He was the life of every party and the bright light showing his kids how to pursue their passions. He had plenty of his own interests—music, travel, history, current events, film, theater, fine dining, photography, space exploration, novel writing, and more. He remained curious, engaging, funny, and upbeat his whole life.

A direct descendent of Pilgrims, pioneers, and Wampanoag Indians, John was born in Lansing, MI, and grew up in Michigan, Ohio, and Canada. He was well-educated, a loving son and brother, a Korean War veteran, a junior executive at the New York Herald Tribune, a filmmaker at McGraw Hill, and a senior executive at US News & World Report.

Yet John always put his family first—his beautiful wife Eadie, the girl of his dreams, and the four kids he loved taking to fancy restaurants and on fabulous vacations. John was generous to a fault; he was kind, loving, and humble. When his children were little, he read to them, sang them to sleep, taught them how to dance, and jumped into the pool with them. When the kids were older, John supported and nurtured their interests, funded their educations and dreams, and embraced their spouses and children.

John’s generosity wasn’t limited to his immediate family. He and Eadie were quiet benefactors to individuals and non-profit organizations. They regularly opened their home to their large extended family and many friends. They were gracious hosts, throwing elegant parties and finding great joy in pampering guests who visited them wherever they lived, especially when the couple moved to Sarasota in 1988.

Even when Parkinson's slowed him down at age 80, John never wanted to be a burden or a bother. He never complained and was always more concerned about others. He delighted in hearing about the latest adventures of his kids, grandkids, and other family members and friends. He cherished his frequent time with them, whether it was dinner every Sunday or the many vacations, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, school events, and myriad reasons they found to celebrate life’s precious moments together.

John was an ideal husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and neighbor, and he was beloved by his family and friends. He loved them all right back, and often commented that he was impressed by their kindness, good humor, talent, and accomplishments.

John is survived by his devoted children Mary Bezzini, Sara Garofalo, Heidi Godman (Jay Roland), and John Godman (Angela); grandsons Kirk Zeigler, Dylan Bezzini (Nicole Hunt), Christopher Roland (Jennifer Grace), Ross Garofalo, Carson Roland, John Godman, and Dominic Godman; granddaughters Elise Bezzini, Linda Bogusz (Josh), and Alexa Roland; great-granddaughter Kalie Bogusz; great-grandsons Karson Zeigler, Dawson Zeigler, and Dylan Bezzini, Jr.; many nieces and nephews and their families, including Robert Godman, John Godman, Jean Fina, Thomas DiBella, Katherine Seluja, John Maher, Richard Bruno, Louis Rossi, Robert Rossi, Jean Wergeles, Matthew Rossi, Dana Rollison, Brian Marotta, Stephen Maher, Serafina Seluja, Chiara DiBella, and Camila Seluja; and bestest friends Dotty and Nick Luca and their sons Rick, Rob, and Scott Handel and their families.

A visitation for John will be held Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232. Following the visitation will be a committal service at 11:30 a.m. at Sarasota National Cemetery, State Road 70, Sarasota, FL 34241.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s (www.neurochallenge.org).