John Thomas Kostoff

COL (ret.) John Thomas Bojen Kostoff
John Kostoff, age 88, passed away peacefully at home holding his wife's hand on March 17, 2024.
John was born on January 5, 1936, in Akron, Ohio to Tom Bojen and Stoina (née Maslaroff) Kostoff who emigrated from Macedonia, becoming the proprietors of Tom's Tap Room, a tavern across from the Firestone Tire Plant in Akron. He graduated from Garfield High School (1954), earned a BSBA from The University of Akron (1960) where he was a Lambda Chi Alpha an MBA from Ohio University (1971), an MMS from The Command and General Staff College (1974), and an MSS from the Army War College (1983). He was commissioned in the U.S. Army in June 1960 and retired in July 1988, having served two tours in Vietnam.
John was a member and past President of the Poquoson Lions Club where he was honored to receive the Melvin Jones Fellowship and a current member of the Williamsburg Host Lions Club. He and Rose Marie were members of CIAO, TIAMO, Young at Heart, Wine & Dine, and Dine & Dessert groups in Kingsmill and more bridge groups worldwide than they can count. He was an avid sports fan and rarely missed watching his favorite teams: the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Cleveland Browns, and the Cleveland Indians.
John is survived by the love of his life, Rose Marie (née Chiofolo), whom he married on September 1, 1958; his daughter, Andrea Kostoff (Mark) Sarina; sons, John Steven (Andrea) Kostoff, and Thomas Angelo (Dawn) Kostoff; granddaughter, Angelina Sarina; grandsons, Harrison Kostoff, and Logan Sarina; sister Rose Marie Yovanovich, sister-in-law Maryann (Bill) Kostich; step-grandchildren Patrick (Hannah) Hyatt, Sean (Christine) Hyatt, Matthew Hyatt, Nicole Hyatt, and step-great-grandchild Cameron Hyatt, nieces, and nephews: Thomas Kostoff, Peter (Pam) Kostoff and Christopher (Gigi) Kostoff, William (Gina) Kostich, Roseann Kostoff (Charles) Currier, David (Joanie) Kostich, Stephanie Yovanovich (Michael) Pfeiffer, Stevan (Katie) Yovanovich, and Laura Yovanovich (Jeff Gray); great nieces & nephews: Jonathan (Emily) Kostoff, Nathaniel Kostoff, Jesse Kostich, Sophia Kostoff, Matthew Kostoff, Jacob Yovanovich, and Claire Yovanovich; great-great-niece Charlotte Kostoff; God-daughter Lynn Matzules, and countless friends.
John was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Chris Kostoff, in-laws, Angelo and Mary Chiofolo, brother-in-law Stevan Yovanovich, sister-in-law Angela Chiofolo, nephew Nicholas Kostoff, God-daughter Jeri Bernardo Smith, and his much-loved mutt Scruffy.
John will be remembered as a dear and loving husband, father, grandfather ("Dedo"), brother, brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, and great-great uncle. He loved being surrounded by his family, planning events, volunteering, and going to the OBX with his family every summer for decades. He was always our rock. John shared our joys, gave us guidance in our moments of need, and comforted us in our sorrows. He will be missed every single day, and the world is a lesser place without him.
The family is grateful to all the healthcare providers who gave kind and compassionate care during his final days. These included: Riverside Hospice (Lisa K., Natalie, Daniel, Tyra), our in-home caregivers (Vicky, Lisa, Destiny, and Erin), neurologist Dr. Patrick Harding, and especially, his primary care physician, Dr, Frank Huffman, who provided John with decades of excellent medical care.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, Virginia on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, with visitation at 11:00 am, Mass at Noon, and Military Honors immediately following. For those unable to attend, the Mass may be viewed remotely by visiting BedeVA.org.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, your local chapter of Lions Club International, or the United Service Organization (USO).
May God bless and keep you, John, you can rest in eternal peace now.