John Ralph Camera

John Ralph Camera

May 7, 1930- February 13, 2024

A devoted husband for sixty-three years, a beloved father of five, a jolly grandfather of nine, and a cherished son, brother and uncle to a hearty Italian family, John Ralph Camera passed peacefully at his home in Laguna Woods Village surrounded by his children.

John was born in the Italian neighborhood of Chambersburg in Trenton, NJ to Giovanni and Maria Camera, both of whom had immigrated from Calabria, Italy. John grew up among a close-knit community of family and neighborhood friends who would remain lifelong companions. After serving two years in the military, John returned home to begin an apprenticeship as a butcher. It was during this time that he met his wife, Joyce Edmonds. They married on Halloween Day in 1953 and within eight years had five children.

John moved his family from Chambersburg to the suburbs of Hamilton Township NJ in 1966, where he enjoyed and hosted backyard barbecues, parties by the swimming pool, holiday celebrations, growing kids, tending his fruit trees, and having family fun on the lawn. Friends and family came over often to celebrate the holidays. He worked hard and saved wisely, always with an appreciative attitude towards life and his good fortune. He loved America and it loved him. "What a country!!" he would exclaim, toasting with a glass of his favorite wine, Carlo Rossi Paisano!

John enjoyed skiing and took the family on many memorable vacations, including an iconic cross-country RV trip in 1969 visiting almost every national park and monument in the US. He played tennis, loved going to the track and poker night with buddies and playing craps at the casino tables. He adored having fun and going to social affairs with his wife Joyce at his side.

John and Joyce were an amazing team. After moving to Seaside Heights NJ to "retire", they helped build a rental property business with sons John & Jeffery. They both worked tirelessly for the community, raising money for college scholarships through the good works of the Italian American Club where John was president for many years. He was a devout Catholic and worked in service for the church for most of his adult life.

In his later years, John and his wife relocated to Southern California, where he once again enjoyed and appreciated the "good life", making new friends, joining the Bocce Club, attending dinner dances at the American Italian Club and supporting the Senior Center and St. Nicholas Church with donations and philanthropic efforts. Even after turning 90, John still loved taking trips to Vegas and riding around in golf cart parades with his son Joe.

John lived his life with an attitude of gratitude. A humble, loving and generous man who liked old-time Western movies, he will always be remembered as one of the "good guys".

John is pre-deceased by his wife Joyce Edmonds and his son Jeffrey Joseph Camera. He is survived by two sisters Lucy Browning and Rosemarie Marano and husband Len Marano, brother-in-law Clement W. Edmonds; daughter Jill and her partner Andrew Damsits of NYC, son John Arthur and wife Phyllis of Colts Neck, NJ, daughter Joan and husband Peter Koch of Laguna Beach, CA and son Joseph and wife Ruth of Laguna Woods, CA. Grandchildren Jeffery, Jillian, Alma, Joey, Tina, Jocelynn, Julianna, Jaydon and Jonas Camera and great-grandson Giles Compton; and many nieces and nephews who all hold him close in their hearts and will miss him dearly.

A celebration of life will be scheduled later in the year. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to offer a smile and say hello to someone passing by, following in John's footsteps.