John P. Musto

John P. Musto, 69, of Sarasota passed away unexpectedly on November 4, 2021.

John was born to Frances (Raso) and John A. Musto on October 13, 1952 in Boston’s West End. He attended Arlington Catholic High School and graduated from Lowell Technical Institute, now University of Massachusetts Lowell, in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business Administration.

In 1971, John met the girl who brought color to his world – Kathie Crowe. For the next 50 years, they built the life any of us would dream of: full of love, fun, laughter, family, and plenty of mischief. Their life together was always an adventure driven by John’s ambition, entrepreneurial nature, and refusal to fear failure and by Kathie’s measured spirit, patience, and understanding. This included a move from Massachusetts to sunny Sarasota in 1989.

If you asked John, his greatest achievement were his sons, Daniel and Andrew, about whom he never missed an opportunity to brag. Later, that paramount position of pride was captured by the families his sons built – Daniel with his wife Frina and their children Piera and Franz, and Andrew with his wife Lisa and their children Max and Cecilia.

John was a legend in the car business. He was known not only as one of the most savvy sales and finance people in the industry, but also as a uniquely talented listener who could always get the right deal done for his clients.

Nothing made John happier than having his family together, especially when in their enclave in the Meadows of Sarasota or at their cabin “Whisper Wood Lodge” in Sapphire, NC. A distant second but still a favorite was the exuberant, loyal support John showed his sports teams: the Lightning, Rays, Buccaneers, and the C-A-N-E-S Canes.

John is survived by his wife, Kathie of Sarasota; son Daniel of Miami Beach and his wife Frina and grandchildren Piera and Franz; son Andrew of Boston and his wife Lisa and grandchildren Max and Cecilia; his brother Richard Musto of Newburyport, MA and his wife Joan; his sister Mary Nay of Boxford, MA and her husband Ralph; his brother Michael Musto of Boston, MA and his wife Margaret; his brother-in-law Edward Crowe of Washington, D.C. and his wife Rena; his brother-in-law Robert Crowe of Woodbine, MD and his wife Reiko; and his beloved nieces and nephews all of whom consistently rated John as their “favorite uncle”.

John was an experience. If you were blessed to know John, you quickly learned he was not concerned with what others thought of him but cared deeply about how you were doing. Those closest to him feel the loss of his smile, his passion for life, and his unwavering love - but also know he’s worked his way to the front of the line and is Heaven’s top salesperson already.

The family will host a Celebration of Life for friends and family on Sunday, November 14, 2021 from 2 pm until the time of service at 3 pm, at the Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at 170 Honore Avenue in Sarasota, FL (941-371-4962). A separate Celebration will also be held in Boston with details to be determined in the weeks to come.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the West End House in Boston, MA (https://westendhouse.org/donate/) or the All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota, FL (https://allfaithsfoodbank.org/donate/).