John J. Nunziata

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. -- John J. Nunziata, 84, a longtime resident of Port Washington, N.Y., died Aug. 2, 2004, at North Shore University Hospital after a short illness.

He was the beloved husband of Lee (Scobbo), his wife of 62 years.

Mr. Nunziata is also survived by his children, John and his wife, Christine, of Ramsey, N.J.; Thomas and his wife, Gail, of Brattleboro, Vt.: Sandra of Sea Cliff, N.Y.; Peter and his wife, Sara, of Natick, Mass.; and Paul, and his wife, Karen, of Matthews, N.C.

He had 10 grandchildren, John-Michael, Kate Ruebenacker, Tim, Ben, Mark, Catherine, Christopher, Ann-Marie, Nicholas, and Matthew; and he had one great-grandchild, Michael.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. As a member of General George Patton’s Third Army in Europe, he saw action in Normandy, The Battle of the Bulge, and the Ardennes.

He was the founder and owner of Port Floor Covering for more than four decades. He served the community through many years of involvement in local organizations. He was active in the Port Washington Lions Club, a volunteer at Saint Francis Hospital, and was a charter member of Elks BPOE Lodge 1543. He was a member of the Manhasset Bay Sportsmen Club, the Sons of Italy John Michael Marino Lodge, American Legion Post 509, a coach of Little League, Knights of Columbus Council 1227, Boy Scout Troop 229, and more.

His contributions have been recognized with many awards over the years, most notably the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from the Lions Foundation. For almost seven decades, Mr. Nunziata was an active member of St. Peter of Alcantara Church. He will be remembered for his steady presence as an usher at 9:30 Mass every Sunday morning.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Saint Peter’s on Aug. 5. During the Mass, Mr. Nunziata was honored as a man of peace, compassion and humility. Services were handled by AUSTIN F. KNOWLES FUNERAL HOME, Port Washington, with interment at Nassau Knolls Memorial Park in Port Washington.