John Senappe Jr. a man of character, commitment and love of his wife and family. I met John on a wonderful day of thanks, on Thanksgiving, at his daughter's home, Cyn, in Colorado.  My Mother, husband and I spent the entire day with John and his wife,
Carol....eating, laughing, sharing memories of the East Coast and feeling as though we were part of his family, if only briefly. As we shared stories, you immediately knew he was a man that loved and was truly loved by all who shared his life. His life long accomplishments will be treasured and never forgotten.  If only we could have more time together.....I know you are at peace with the woman you loved and are missed by all of those that were blessed to know you.

Mr Senappe was special to me because I had heard so many stories about him. Most of these stories were told by CYN and her children Daniel and Crystal. After meeting him, their stories came to life. I could see why they all admired him. To meet him is to love him. I was just there to listen to anything he had to say. He had such a genuine sense of humor. This I loved most about him. I am blessed for having known him.

When I think of my father, John Senappe, the first word that comes to my mind is Strength. Strength of character  mental strength  emotional strength  physical strength. He was the strongest man I knew. After all
  •Who else had a father who dug out a basement under a standing house? 
  •He had such interesting scars  with good stories behind them, true or not. 
  •Who else refused trips to the doctor after falling off the roof into just-trimmed shrubs  or after a hatchet fell on his head when putting up Christmas lights?

Even his movie idols were tough - John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, James Cagney  and when their strength was challenged, he nipped that in the bud (see Dad  it didn't take me long to bring up the Andy Griffith Show, or Barney Fife  - a longstanding family dinner joke). We had TV for maybe a week after we finally moved into our home in Italy. After turning through the few channels, Dad found a John Wayne movie on, heard him talking in a high-pitched Italian voiceover, and that was it. The TV was unplugged and it was stored for the next seven years until we moved back to the States.  

I grew up in a home knowing my parents loved each other, a blessing in my life. He called my mom the love of his life and his eternal partner. If we could all be so lucky to know love that deep  He was just as committed to his career - we all knew how important serving 30 years in the U.S. Navy was to him. 

Each of us kids knew a different man, a different father. I hope that's true, as all relationships shouldn't be the same. Everyone who knew him, knew him differently, yet we probably admire many of the same qualities in him  loyalty, compassion, hardworking, loving, honest, full of commitment to whatever project he undertook, patriotic -- all entwined with his love for family, along with an occasional zinger to an unsuspecting target delivered with a sideways grin. 

Some of his lines will live on with me  You're never too full for ice cream  There's no such thing as bad wine  or bad pizza  What do you think, money grows on trees?   the rarely obeyed, Stop before going into from reverse to drive, you'll wreck your transmission  and the only once-said but near favorite, Hey Hon, what's the deal, onion-wise? (When Stephen diced onions differently than Mom did for dinner one night; a line which gets more play in my home now than you would think.) 

One of the greatest pleasures in his life was sitting around the dining room table with a good glass of Montepulciano (or any good wine), an assortment of desserts and good stories while surrounded by his family. It didn't have to be a houseful to be enjoyed small gatherings were just as special to him  pizza dinners, breakfasts with friends, family barbeques through the years, sitting for hours in a Michelangelo's in Naples solving the world's problems with his friends.

He loved the holidays. I loved the stories of him rigging up a speaker into an old car and talking to the kids coming up the driveway on Halloween  the work he put in decorating our home, inside and out, at Christmas. His Santa, sleigh and reindeer will always hold a special place in our family's heart. He came home on Washington's birthday with a cherry pie for who knows how many years, surprising Mom each year, since she'd never remember when that was. He looked forward to hosting their In Between Party for several decades, catching up with many friends. 

He enjoyed the Colts when Johnny Unitas was their QB, the Braves with Dale Murphy in center field, the Boston Red Sox when Yaz was a mainstay  Shirley Temple movies, the Waltons, pizza or chicken parmesan at Rosina's, the John D. MacDonald books from years ago, doing woodworking projects, good crusty Italian bread, a glass of Tio Pepe fino. He chose his friends carefully, and he truly treasured them. 

He thought nothing about dropping everything to assist with projects or repairs. He was my O'Malley and I know more than a few of us dialed that O for O'Malley. He helped so many, in such a variety of ways. One instance epitomizes so much about him. Years ago as a sports reporter, I called him from Gainesville when I was covering the Florida Relays track meet and my car had made an awful noise heading there. Before cell phones, I drove onto a curb as close to a pay phone as I could get, called him and put the phone as close to the rattling noise for him to diagnose. He determined broken water pump, drove down to Gainesville, replaced the pump in my car after finding it among hundreds of others in the parking lot, then ran up to the press box to leave me HIS car keys. He would drive mine back home to make sure it made it home okay. To him, that was nothing.  To me  it's one memory that brings together his strength, love, commitment, handiness  all that my Dad was. 
Not a day passes that I don't think of him and miss him. When I see our flag flying, when jets fly overhead (and  I remember him saying to be thankful for that noise, it's the sound of freedom)  when I still shift too quickly from reverse to drive. 

And until we meet once more, here's wishing you a happy voyage home. 

Unspoken eulogy ~ Bonnie Johnson

My condolences are with you and your family. It was an honor to have served with and become friends with John and his wonderful family. Phillip Fiorilli

I had the privilege of being stationed with John twice - first at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam and later at the AIMD in Rota Spain.  I often tell the story of how, at his retirement ceremony in Rota, he went through the ranks of almost 300 people and said "Thanks" to everyone by name, often by first name.  I was amazed and asked him later how he did that.  He said that remembering names was all he was good at.  Typical John.  He was probably the best boss and the best person I have ever worked for. Many memories - all of them great.  Fair Winds and Following Seas Commander - you deserve them.

We spent 4 fascinating and fun years in Naples, Italy with Carol and John in the early "70's, I'm sure I will think of them often when telling others who ask what living there was like.  Will miss our continuing contact  and wish the best to family and friends.

I will always keep the two of them in my heart. I am so sorry for your loss. Michelle forrest

Daniel's eulogy for his Grandpa: 

     Whenever I was visiting Nana and Grandpa as a young boy, I tried to find something that could be just mine and Grandpa's. When Grandpa took me to Atlanta to watch a Braves-Phillies series, I have only one memory of the entire trip. It's not that I ate strawberry pancakes for every meal, or that while swimming at the hotel I found a pair of glasses at the bottom of the pool only to turn out they were mine. My memory was of my grandfather talking to me about the program guide.  I can't remember what was said - just that he and I shared a moment.

     Grandpa was my father figure throughout my life. I would follow him into his den and just watch whatever he was watching. When he would go to the garage, I'd be right there with him. Whatever he was working on, I would ask questions and he would teach me his wood-working techniques - which I've since used then on several projects of my own.

     I don't know what it was like for his children growing up.  I imagine it was hard not seeing him for long periods of time while he was at sea. I believe Grandpa missed the time when his kids were young. I feel everything he had done for my sister and I and for my kids were the things he wished he could have done for his kids.

     One time he made bows and arrows for my kids, it only took him about five minutes. About 15 minutes later he felt like they needed targets, since my kids tried to shoot each other. Luckily the arrows were just dowel rods.

     The greatest gift my grandfather gave to me was being the best man at my wedding.

     John Senappe was born in 1930 and was raised on a farm in Connecticut. He loved farm life and planned to be a farmer until he got a taste of city life when he moved to Providence, RI, as a teenager. He was a basketball star in High School and loved baseball as well. He was a sports fan for life.
     When he got a job in Providence at a florist shop, he spent his first week's pay on a dozen roses for his mother. This wasn't the first time he had given her flowers. When he was younger, he came home with flowers for his mother -- followed by the neighbor from whose garden he had dug them up.  He continued this generosity throughout his life. He was the man who fixed the neighbors' toilet and cleared leaves from the neighbors' roof.  When Bonnie or I moved, Dad would travel to wherever we were and put up blinds, install garage door openers and put microwaves up over the stove. He would hang curtain rods and do a dozen other things to turn our new houses into homes. My Dad and I even hung wallpaper together - and yet we still loved each other when we were done.
     He loved spoofing us, as he called it when he tricked or teased when I was little. He used to spoof and tell me, "it's not your turn to eat tonight." I knew it was a joke. One evening when I was about four, a tailor was at the house, fitting a uniform for my Dad. The tailor remarked that the pasta sauce smelled good and said I was a lucky little girl. Ever my father's daughter, I looked straight at the tailor and deadpanned, "it's not my turn to eat tonight." My Dad said that by the look on the man's face, he wasn't sure the tailor believed him when he said it was just a joke. 
     A couple years ago my mother mentioned that my Dad had accidentally been shot while he was in Boot Camp & that he had a scar on his back from the bullet. I hadn't heard that before so I asked Dad about it and of course, he had been spoofing my Mom.  "You told me you were shot." She said.  "And you BELIEVED me?" he said surprised. 
     My Dad whistled all the time when I was a growing up. I'd follow the sound of his tune and find him busy, always doing something, fixing something or building something. He made things for us kids, he made furniture and even dug out a basement under our house. It seems he was always hammering or painting. He worked extremely hard to make our lives comfortable.
     My Dad loved having his family gathered around him at the dining room table, over a home-cooked meal of pasta, sharing stories and laughter. He would sit at the head of the table with a glass of red wine, looking fondly around the room at the four generations gathered there. The times that brought him the most joy were those spent with family and friends. [My eulogy for my Dad]

A special man, Will be missed by everyone that knew him. He and Carol made everyone they touched welcome in there home and family . May God Bless

MCPO L J moore

To Cyndy, Bonnie and Stephen:  I can't begin to express what your parents meant to me as neighbors, much less as friends.  I've known them and you since 1970 and there aren't two kinder people in this world.(That will make John laugh!)  The neighborhood will never be the same and it brings tears to my eyes just seeing the Senappe home and knowing that they and you won't be there anymore...very sad.  Ken would repeat everything I've said because John was like a mentor to him.  I'll miss you all deeply and hope I get to see you again.  You three, your children and grandchildren have quite a legacy.  Enjoy it and each other.  Thank you for including me in the gatherings...love you all.

Uncle John was a very generous man in every way.  I don't know many people that would have their niece stay with them for 2 months while in Italy.  I would say Aunt Carol was just as generous.  Between the two of them I saw and learned so much about Italy.
When Uncle John was home for dinner I was allowed to have a glass of wine.

When I was in Spain staying with them there was a day trip sponsored by the Navy.  While going there on the bus one guy appeared interested in me until he figured out that my Uncle was the Commander.  That was the end of that interest as word on the bus spread.
Uncle could always joke together and I loved him very much.

My grandfather will be missed. He was my father figure for most of my life. He is a great man.

I miss you every single day Grandpa. I know I was fortunate to have you in my life for 43 years but I'm selfish and would have preferred to have your company for decades more. I will always cherish the memories of the times we've shared. I will make some percolated coffee with a little cinnamon added to the grounds and have a cup in honor of the mornings I'd wake up in the house on Arora Blvd to that delicious smell. You'd have started the coffee when you returned from your walk and I'd start my morning with you and Nana drinking the coffee you made for us. Nana sitting on my left, having a bowl of Crispix and some juice, you and I leafing through the paper and talking. 
I will have a glass of red wine and think of our dinners, the family around the table, talking and laughing. You smiling and joking, clearly enjoying it all. 
I am so thankful for our trip to New York City. Three generations checking out the city, eating in Little Italy every night. 
The regular day to day activities and the adventures with you, those are some of the happiest moments of my life.
Your absence has left a void in my life, an empty place in my heart that will never go away. I accept that I will hurt, the raw grief is, in a way, a blessing. I wouldn't feel this if you hadn't touched my life in such a profound way. You have been such a positive, loving, wonderful, Grandpa. I will miss you. I hope we see each other again.

We have been privileged and honored to know and serve with the Senappe family, both in the Navy and civilian life.  John was a naval officer who knew his profession and knew how to get things done.  He was a stalwart and trusty friend whose word was gospel.  We will miss him and Carol but are comforted to know they have left behind a strong family who will continue to make them proud.
Vincent and June Schuppert

There once was a man named John Senappe, who grew up in a farm community, but this was not his life to be, as the waving wheat called him to the sea.  A sailor he was for most of his life defending our freedoms from all sorts of strife.  Along the way he married his wife, Carol as she was to be known, who gave him 3 children to call his own, Stephen, Cyndi and Bonnie they are.  Always the center of their parent's attention they all grew to be loving of their parent's affection.  Two grandchildren Daniel and Crystal they are and then two great grandchildren Julia and Danny arrive all to be doted on by Carol and John for the rest of their lives.  Now John and Carol have gone on to their final rest to await us left when once again we can lift a glass or two or three and sing a song of glee for when we are once again united with thee.

Not gone but waiting the “In-Between Time”.  Love always and forever in our thoughts,

Bob & Lois Magno

Dear Cyndi, Bonnie and Stephen, For over forty years we have been first neighbors, then the best of friends. We have many wonderful memories of both of your parents and a good many of them included you all too. Over the years we grew closer to being family more than just good friends. Our sadness at their loss will be with us always as with you.  Our love and blessings. The Larrabees

Dear Cynthia, I am so sorry about the loss of both of your parents but I am grateful they are together again.You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers

He was quite the gentleman, sailor, husband, father and grandfather. Our condolences to the Senappe family. 
Dave, Meg, Kevin and Allen Roberts

With many a shipmate we both have served and made lifelong friendships.  Along the way paths grow apart but there were those times at reunions where once again we met to have a drink or two, catch up on time passed and through clouded memories revel in our adventures both bad and good.  Of course there is the remembering of those who have gone on to sail in God's ship of promised salvation.  You are now with Him and we remain here awaiting our turn to join you.  During the “In-between Time” as you so aptly described you will be always in our hearts and still part of our lives.  You have been a good friend, companion and teacher – “Job Well Done”.  We will keep two seats open at Bob Evans every Thursday for you and Carol.  Love you both.

Bob & Lois Magno

OBITUARY

John Senappe Jr.

October 24, 1930 – July 20, 2014

Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home

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