John Anthony Shullo

John Anthony Shullo, 86, of Brookhaven, Georgia, passed away on September 21, 2026. He was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on May 18, 1940, to the late Amadeo and Caroline (Porrazzo) Shullo. John was a vivid storyteller and enjoyed regaling his friends and family with hilarious antics from his childhood and high school years in Hamilton.

John graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in business, served in the Air National Guard, and spent most of his working life as an executive in the soft drink industry.

John leaves behind Claudia Rebecca Adkison, his beloved and devoted wife of nearly 47 years. He was a treasured husband, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be lovingly remembered by his sister, Mary Jo Osterman, whose husband, Thomas Osterman, predeceased her; his niece, Beth Osterman Kimberly (James Kimberly); his great-niece, Caroline Kimberly Talley (Matthew), and their daughter, Madeline; his great-nephew, Nicholas Kimberly (Ruth Roudiez); and his nephew, Michael Osterman (Charlotte), and their son, Oliver. John also held a special place in the hearts of Claudia’s family, including his sister-in-law, Shirley Adkison Adair and her husband Nick Adair; nieces Jennifer Adair and Rachel Walton (Matthew); and great-nieces Emma Walton Alger (Gabriel) and Claire Walton. He is also remembered by the families of Claudia’s four late brothers, including nieces and nephews David Adkison (Paige), Bobby Adkison (Loretta), Carol Adkison, Kate Adkison Hamburger, Mary Adkison Burton, Daniel Adkison, Steve Adkison (Susan), Gregory Adkison (Rebekah), and Rebecca Adkison Chitwood (Scott). John was deeply loved by his goddaughters, Elizabeth Harkey Gillespie (Ben), and Tatum Bass Pharr (John), as well as by many extended family members, neighbors, dear friends, and colleagues.

John was unfailingly supportive of Claudia and her career. Together, they shared a life filled with travel, friends, family, poodles, and countless interests. He had a lifelong fascination with industry and a deep curiosity for understanding how things worked—whether the subject was a business, a mechanical device, or the world around him. An avid reader and newshound, he enjoyed lively discussions and debates with his many friends. His amused family and friends described his approach to life as “informed certitude,” a phrase that perfectly captured his confidence, curiosity, intelligence, and willingness to advise others. They would also describe him as one of the funniest men they knew, as well as honest, honorable, principled, and decent.

One of John’s greatest passions was sailing on Lake Lanier in Georgia. In the 1970s, he bought a sailboat and taught himself to sail. Over the years, he became one of the lake’s most accomplished sailors and he raced every other sailboat he encountered, whether they were aware of it or not. His love of sailing was matched by his enjoyment of mountain biking and road biking. He was also an enthusiastic Atlanta Braves fan who followed baseball with great interest. A wonderful cook, John especially loved preparing Italian food and baking bread, and he was always ready to discuss the intricacies of sourdough at length.

Travel was another great pleasure in John’s life. He was especially fond of Italy, the country of his family’s roots, and he treasured a trip devoted to discovering his Italian heritage and finding his father’s remaining relatives. John’s parents Amadeo Shullo and Caroline Porrazzo Shullo each came to the United States from Italy as children. Their food, customs, and traditions were deeply ingrained in their children.

John’s greatest interest, however, was always people. He wanted to know what others were doing, how their businesses were going, what they were thinking about, and what was happening in their lives. He maintained close friendships with people he had known through work and school many years earlier and made a point of keeping in touch.

John faced significant health challenges later in life, beginning with cancer, followed by significant vision loss and ultimately severe neuropathy that affected his walking, use of his hands, speech, and swallowing. He met these challenges with remarkable adaptability, courage, and determination. When walking became difficult, he learned to use a walker and later a motorized scooter, allowing him to continue living his life, seeing friends, pursuing his interests, remaining an active part of the lives of those he loved, and even walking the dog. Despite the limitations imposed by his illness, he continued to be curious about the world and interested in the lives of others. His laughter, warmth, boundless curiosity, sharp mind, generous spirit, infectious humor, and zest for life will endure in all who knew and loved him.

Special plans to celebrate John’s life will be communicated at a later date. His memory may be honored through a donation to the Winship Lymphoma Program Fund, which supports innovative lymphoma research, or to the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Fund in Neurology, which supports research in movement disorders. Both funds are administered by Emory University. Donations in memory of John Anthony Shullo may be made at https://gift.emory.edu/johnshullo.