Giovanni Cangemi

Giovanni, "John," Cangemi was born July 11, 1951 in the town of Partinico, Palermo, Sicily to Castenzio and Maria (nee Vitale) Cangemi. After graduation from high school, he served in the Italian Army. There he played soccer and began his love of boxing. In 1972 he moved to Detroit and worked for a year at Ford Motor Company. Afterward he started his own construction company, Z and E Cement. He met his first wife, Kristine, through his younger sisters. They were together 25 years and had four children. In 2003, Giovanni married Joy Oswald. John was known for being the clown; he loved to make everyone laugh. He also had quite a knack with animals. Stories abound of how he befriended a wild animal no one else could touch. John is survived by his children, Enzo (Stacy), Cassandra, Marcella and Fabrizio Cangemi; his six grandchildren, Brianna, Miranda, Monica, Vito, Johnny and Gio; and his siblings, Pedro (Lori), Miguel (Petra), Salvatore (Josie), Maria (Natale) Pettinato, Concetta Cangemi and Josephine Lobaido. Giovanni was predeceased by his second wife, Joy (February 6, 2013) and his brother, Francesco.