John Vecchioli

John Vecchioli 1934 - 2013

John Vecchioli, 78, of Odessa, Florida, passed away on February 9, 2013.

Born in Manhattan, New York, on August 8, 1934, John was raised in South Plainfield, New Jersey. John received his B.A. in Geology in 1956 and his Master of Science in 1957 from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. He became employed by the U.S. Geological Survey upon graduation from Rutgers. In 1958, he was called to active duty with the United States Air Force and subsequently was honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserves. He married Lena Rose "Lee" Bengivenga in 1959. He continued his 40 year career as a geologist and hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He served as project chief for various studies and published numerous technical papers on ground-water hydrology while working in U.S.G.S. offices in Trenton, N.J. and Mineola, N.Y. He relocated to Tallahassee, Florida in 1976 and became the U.S.G.S. Florida District Chief in 1992, where he served until his retirement in 1999. In Tallahassee, John taught graduate level courses on ground-water topics as a visiting professor at Florida State University. After his retirement, he consulted in hydrogeology and served on the National Academy of Science Committee on Restoration of the Greater Everglades ecosystem.

John received numerous honors and appointments during his professional career. He served on an assignment in Qatar in 1976 to review the feasibility of an artificial recharge scheme proposed by a FAO-UN team. In 1991, he was appointed to the National Academy of Science Committee on ground-water recharge. Notably, he received the U.S. Department of the Interior Distinguished Service Award in 1996 for his outstanding contributions to the field of ground­water hydrology.

John was an active member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Tallahassee, Florida, where he served as a Lector.
For many years, he belonged to the Men's Club of Good Shepherd and played on their softball team. John was also a member of St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz, Florida. He also enjoyed walking, golfing, reading, and photography. Most of all, he loved Sunday dinners with his children and grandchildren.

John leaves behind his devoted wife of 53 years, Lee Vecchioli; four children, Joan Vecchioli (Andrew Salzman), Beth Vecchioli (Carol Porter), Joseph Vecchioli, and Michael Vecchioli; grandchildren, Rachel Salzman and Matthew Salzman; a sister, Angela Mignella; and a brother, Joseph Vecchioli.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 17, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home at 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida. The funeral mass will be held 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 18, 2013, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church at 4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, with burial following at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park on Timberlane Road. A reception for family and friends will follow at the home of Beth Vecchioli and Carol Porter at 2868 Royal Isle Drive, Tallahassee.

Contributions may be made in memory of John to Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

Please sign guest book at www.culleysmeadowwood.com