Augusto J. "Gust" Calamunci

Augusto J. "Gust" Calamunci, 91, of 10 Price Avenue, West Ellicott, died Monday September 29, 2025, in UPMC Chautauqua.
He was born August 29, 1934, in Villa Regina, Argentina, a son of the late Antonino and Gaetana Germana Calamunci. At the age of four his family relocated to Italy before he emigrated to the United States in 1954, spending his 20th birthday on the boat.
Upon his arrival in Jamestown, he went right to work at Maddox Table. In 1955 he enrolled in night school and became a US citizen. Because of his strong work ethic and living the American dream he was able to send for his sister Mary and his twin sister Rose to move here in 1956 and his mother in 1958. In 1963 he started work at Crawford Furniture where his lifelong friendship started with the Crawford family.
In June of 1975 Gust and his wife Dianne bought the Jamestown institution, Johnny's Lunch from her father and mother. They continued to have a hand in the business while it is being run by the 4th generation grandson Robert Yezzi with Dianne by his side. As recently as May of this year Gust would go into Johnny's a few days a week to supervise the back kitchen operations. In the early 1980s a group of young men from Southwestern Central School started the "Gust Club". They gave Gus a bat inscribed with his name which hangs in the restaurant to this day.
He was a communicant of Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church and was a member of Knight of Columbus as a 4th degree, the Elks Lodge and Lakewood Rod and Gun Club.
More than anything, Gust loved his family, but he also enjoyed time in Florida and betting on the ponies at Gulfstream Racetrack.
Surviving is his wife Dianne Colera Calamunci, whom he married September 3, 1962; two sons John Calamunci of Jamestown and Anthony (Kathy) Calamunci of Toledo, OH; grandchildren Robert Yezzi, Michael (Hannah) Yezzi, Nicole (Matt Doino) Calamunci, Anthony (Sierra) Calamunci, Jr., Jacob Calamunci, Cassandra Calamunci, Gioconda Calamunci and Giovana Calamunci; great grandchildren Sebastian and Sullivan Yezzi and Colin Doino; a daughter in law Gioconda Calamunci of Jamestown and a son in law Fred Yezzi of Jamestown.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter Tammy Calamunci Yezzi; sisters Josephine Mondello, Maria Marchini and Rose Mazzurco and brothers Santo and Anthony Calamunci.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Thursday in SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
Entombment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 pm Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.