GIOVANNI DE MUSIS

DE MUSIS, Giovanni Born January 17, 1937, in Sant' Angelo all' Esca, Avellino, Italy, passed away on November 18, 2025, in his home, on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. Giovanni, known as John, immigrated to America in 1961, joining his father, Leopoldo, in a small walk-up at #4 Garden Court Street in the North End. Encouraged by the affectionate support of his dear mother Emanuela's sisters, Coletta and Michelina, John adjusted to a world utterly unlike his hilltown home in Southern Italy. And though the struggle to build a good life was sometimes difficult, John – never afraid of hard work – persevered. After taking jobs as a pizza maker and tailor, he finally found his vocation as a hairdresser, working at Dellaria Salons in Kenmore Square for 42 years, before retiring at the age of 75. John met Mary C. Goodfellow in 1965, and she became his sponsor for United States citizenship, which he acquired upon taking his Oath of Allegiance on April 22, 1969. Soon thereafter, on April 5, 1970, he and Mary exchanged sacred vows of matrimony, marrying at St. Anthony's Church in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Together, John and Mary had two children and bought two brownstones in the Back Bay. This was the good life, achieved by way of John's strong, skilled hands, wise judgement and generous spirit. He spent many years fixing, upgrading, and renovating his properties, planting rose bushes in the front gardens, decorating the facades of 119 and 121 Comm. Ave. with a Christmas light show that brightened the neighborhood, and building a roof deck where he planted tomatoes and basil for his homemade "gravy" as, above him, il Tricolore flew side by side with the Stars and Stripes. And when a day's work was complete, John liked to sit on his stoop, whistle a Canzone Napoletana and relax with the setting sun. Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole. But what John loved the most was his family. They miss him greatly. His wife, Mary, will always cherish his strength as a husband, his dedication as a dad and his joyfulness as a grandpa; his daughter, Emanuela, adored that he would do anything for those he loved and that he'd never forget and always repay the kindnesses bestowed upon him; his son, Leopoldo, acquired John's love of food and cooking and his entrepreneurial zeal; his grandson, Giovanni, will carry on his name with great pride and purpose; his granddaughter, Una, will forever hear the echoes of grandpa's songful cuchi-cuchi-coo; and his daughter-in-law, Suzanne and son-in-law, Ernesto are forever grateful for the welcome he gave them into his family. John leaves behind his sister, Carmelina; his niece, Michela, her husband, Michelangelo and their children, Paola and Marcello; his niece, Manuela; his nephew, Gianluigi and his fiancée, Mariangela; his nephew, Enrico, and his children, Michael and Linda Marie; and many cousins and paisanos. John was predeceased by his older brother, Tonino; his sister-in-law, Linda; his brother-in-law, Giovanni; and his cousin, Michael. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Leonard's Church, in the North End of Boston, at 10:00am, on January 17, 2026. If you would like to make a donation, the family asks that you consider supporting the Neighborhood Partners for the Hurley School, in their campaign to renovate the Hurley School's playground, which serves the South End community. https://supporthurley.org/new-community-playground/ Lehman, Reen, and McNamara 617-782-1000