John Joseph Gerosimo

A visitation will be held at Riverside Memorial Chapel, located at 180 West 76th Street, Frnt 1, New York, NY 10023, on November 20, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Those unable to attend in-person can join virtually starting at 6:00 pm at https://www.legacycelebrated.com/john-joseph-gerosimo/.

The funeral service will take place at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 405 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019, on November 21, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Those unable to attend in-person can join virtually at https://www.youtube.com/live/bcHXwXLL7U0

Following the funeral service, a committal service will be held at St. Raymond's New Cemetery, 2600 Lafayette Ave, New York, NY 10465, on November 21, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

A repast will be held at Westland Roe, 174 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023 on November 21, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

For those who have asked how to support, and in lieu of flowers, contributions to his family's GoFundMe are deeply appreciated: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-celebration-of-Johnny

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the world gained another angel and protector in the passing of John "Johnny" Joseph Gerosimo. Our son, brother, uncle, favorite musician, and friend. Johnny courageously pushed through a 13-year battle with cancer. Johnny is a special soul; kind, gentle, and endlessly thoughtful. His smile, laugh, and music lit up every room, inspiring and uplifting everyone around him.

Johnny is survived by his parents, James and Yvette Gerosimo, his siblings, Jimmy and Veronica Gerosimo and Eva Nicole Gonzalez, his sisters-in-law, Mariela Gerosimo and Alex Bodden, nephews Julian and Luca Gerosimo, countless aunts and cousins, his neighbors, teammates, bandmates, colleagues, Sloan Kettering care team, many acquaintances and encounters, and every dog he met along the way.

Johnny was born in Manhattan, a true city boy taking the bus with his briefcase to 2nd grade. He went to St. Ignatius Loyola school up to 4th grade, playing roller hockey and little league for local community teams. When the Gerosimo family moved to Rockland County in 1990, he attended the South Orangetown School District, starring in the Tappan Zee High School (TZ) production of Fame, being crowned Homecoming King, and excelling as an accomplished point guard in the basketball program.

John’s basketball career continued into college at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), ranking second in the state in assists. He saw a physical transformation in high school and college, building himself to be a strong athlete, at the peak of the game. Both at TZ and TC3, you not only saw him on the court lighting up the scoreboard, you also heard his angelic voice singing the National Anthem before the game.

Around the age of 20, while a student at TC3, Johnny taught himself how to play guitar, accompanied by the book “Guitars for Dummies.” He did this following the family tradition and talent of his grandfather and uncle. This led to the formation of his band “Just Us Here” and two musical releases, “Before Dawn” and “Square One,” and accolades including #1 singer songwriter in NYC on ReverbNation. Johnny and Just Us Here played hundreds of live shows across the country, captivating audiences with rhythmic guitar, hypnotizing melodies and riffs, and lyrical genius.

While pursuing his musical dreams, Johnny was one of the hardest working individuals, often running home, changing an outfit, and rushing to another job. A true Renaissance man in the restaurant industry, Johnny was a bartender, server, cook, hostess, and then playing a gig at night. He paid it forward always being a gracious tipper, because he understood.

Johnny dedicated 7 years at St. Paul the Apostle Church as part of the security team where he built meaningful connections and showed compassion to the clergy, administrative staff, parishioners, and the most vulnerable members of the community.

He left his position at the church in 2012 to pursue his music in New Orleans, newly signed by a manager with a tour in sight. However, his dream was quickly halted when he was diagnosed with cancer.

He faced years of cancer treatment, medications, surgeries, remission, recovery, and cancer again under the outstanding care of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He showed remarkable strength and hope, holding on for more time with his family, especially his two little nephews.

Johnny loved deeply, cared fiercely, and continued giving even through the hardest moments of his illness. Keep Johnny's legacy going by dreaming big, holding the door open for people, tipping extra to those in service fields and musicians, and giving to those in need. He lives on through his music and lyrics:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4cIUOn7Ke3iJAtYaDugNbw

In the words of Johnny, "dance when you can, laugh if you can, cry when you have to. Oh, and stay safe, kiddo."

…just us here…