On December 19, 2025, John Santo Amendola or fondly known by his loved ones as “Grandpa Duke”, died peacefully at his home in Bethpage, NY at the age of 95. John is survived by his 4 children: Janet Uccellini (Thomas), John Amendola (Irene), Phyllis Fardella (Anthony) and Robert Amendola. John will also be deeply missed by his 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. John was married to his beloved wife Phyllis for 72 years. Phyllis passed away in January of 2023.
John joined the United States Army in 1947 and proudly fought in the Korean War. After being discharged from the Army, John enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserves until 1952. After his career in the military, John rose to the rank of Captain in the Bethpage Fire Department. John also had a career as a pressman at Grumman Aerospace.
John loved hunting, target shooting and also had a love for taking photographs of his family and nature.
Visitation for John is at Arthur F. White Funeral Home in Bethpage NY, on December 29, 2025 from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm. Funeral mass is December 30, 2025 at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 110 Bi County Blvd #114, Farmingdale, New York 11735, online at [Good Shepherd Hospice](https://www.catholichealthli.org/good-shepherd-hospice/ways-give), Tunnel to Towers Foundation at [Tunnel to Towers Foundation](https://t2t.org/), or the Bethpage Fire Department, ATTN: Donations 225 Broadway, Bethpage, New York 11714, online at [Bethpage Fire Department](https://bethpagefd.net/).
