Obituary of John J. Balestrieri

John Joseph Balestrieri, age 82, of Willingboro, NJ passed away surrounded by his loved ones on January 11, 2025. He was born on May 14,1942 in Mount Pleasant,PA to Francis Paul Balestrieri and Francesca (Jean) Balestrieri (nee Manzo). His formative years were spent in Altoona, PA, moving to South Philadelphia as a teen, where he met his wife of 60 years at a school dance.

John was a renaissance man with a love of history, science, music, art, and all things mechanical. He shared these loves with his family through vacations to historical places, singing his favorite songs on car trips, and arts and crafts projects. He was known for being able to fix just about anything. Through the years, he enjoyed remote control airplanes and cars, and shooting off model rockets – all to the enjoyment of his children and kids in the neighborhood. He also had a passion for model trains, building elaborate platforms that included multiple gauges.

John graduated from Bishop John Neuman High School in South Philadelphia and LaSalle College while serving in ROTC. As a manufacturing engineer, he worked in industries from paper to printers, computers to packaging equipment, refrigeration tanks to HVAC. His career took him on travels to Europe and Japan. He supported his children by being a coach, an Indian Guides leader, and later a manager and roadie to his sons bands. He volunteered his time to Philabundance, Catholic Relief Services, and was an usher at Corpus Christi Church for 18 years.

John is survived by the love of his life, his wife Gaytana Balestrieri (nee Pino) and their five children - Jean-Anne Madden (Bill), Beth-Ann Schumacher, John Balestrieri (Aundrea), Francis Paul Balestrieri (Meghan), and Ann Tracey; their ten grandchildren - McKenna Velazquez (Mike), Julia Madden, Phoebe Schumacher,Miranda Schumacher, Caleb Schumacher, Jade Endicott (Alex), Celeste Tracey, Enzo Tracey, Francesca Balestrieri, and Lilliana Balestrieri; as well as six step-grandchildren, two great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Although John was raised an only child, he discovered through DNA that he had half siblings and cousins, who he enjoyed meeting in his last few years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Jean, his in-laws Frank E. and Anna Pino, his brother and sister-in-law Anthony and Patricia Pino, and his son-in-law Ed Tracey.

Those wishing to pay their respects can do so at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 11 Sunset Road Road, Willingboro NJ at 10am on Saturday, January 25th, followed by a Catholic Mass at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Corpus Christi Church (donation address 63 Sylvan Lane, Willingboro, NJ 08046) or Philabundance (www.philabundance.org)