John Gagliano

Born on July 15, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York, John was 71 years old. His cause of death was Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). His parents were Alfred and Phyllis Gagliano (deceased). He was the oldest sibling to his brothers Ronald, Sylvester, and Frank (deceased). His nephew is Che Gagliano-Johnson; his neice is Marisol Galiano; grand nephew, Mason and grand neice, Siena.

John served in the USA Air Force as a nurse and retired as a Major. His education was as follows: Power Memorial Academy in NYC, Pope Pius the Tenth Seminary in Union Dale NY, St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester NY, Mercy School of Nursing in Charlotte, NC

Since retiring from his military service, John Gagliano lived in the King William area. However, it was apparent to many that his heart lived in the near Westside community of San Antonio where he opened Giovanni’s Deli and Catering Service. Carrying his dedication in the field of health and nursing, he provided a healthy version of the traditional pizza and the more elaborate dishes offered on his menu. Growing to know the community and armed with his commitment of helping others, John found many opportunities for involvement, far beyond the offerings of authentic Italian cuisine. Every organization in the near Westside community knew John because he was always offering to do something or to provide something for fundraisers and other community events—donating Italian ice cream bars for the youth to sell at the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish festival, cooking Lazagna for lunch meetings at Inner City Development, promoting the neighboring events at Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, working fundraisers for ALS, San Antonio Aids Foundation and the San Antonio Club House, having the students from San Anto Cultural Arts paint the huge flower pots in front of his deli, offering the restaurant space for workshops in the study of non-violence.

John also engaged in events that brought different elements of the City together. One example was that he catered a luncheon for many years for the entourage of King Rey Feo during Fiesta and invited the children from J.T. Brackenridge Elementary and Lanier High School or Tafolla Middle School to perform.

“Something that stuck out for me was how he always spent a lot of time reaching out to students at Lanier High School and other surrounding schools, especially the culinary arts students who he invited to work in his kitchen,” says community friend Gabriel Gonzalez. “He was a mentor to a lot of community youth—teaching them, giving them real job experience and hiring them. “

Many community leaders and friend were invited to his yearly gathering in his front yard to watch the King William Parade where he and his loving friends provided an elaborate layout of food for them to enjoy.

John will be greatly missed because of his generosity in helping others, his courage to confront wrong-doings, and his unending flow of creative ideas in how to make a community event better and more inclusive, and for his deeper spirituality. At the end, he humbly accepted the fact that with the crippling deterioration of ALS, he had become the opportunity for others to obtain grace and understanding by helping him through his difficulties.

Visitation at Roy Akers Funeral Home, 1515 N. Main Ave, San Antonio, Texas 78212 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m. (210.226.7201)

Rosary at 7:00, flowers are welcome or donations to the ALS or the charity of your choice.

Friday Funeral Mass will be at 1:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1321 El Paso St. (Ph: 226.4064)

Interment will be with his family in North Carolina.