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BORN
1950
DIED
2025
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John Rotundo Obituary
May 17, 1950 - May 20, 2025
Fort Worth, Texas - John L. Rotundo, age 75, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2025, after losing a brief battle with bladder cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m., Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5953 Bowman Roberts Rd, Ft. Worth, Texas 76179.
Committal with Military Honors: 9:15 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2025, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211. (If you wish to follow the police escort, please arrive at Biggers Funeral Home by 7:15 a.m.).
Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Biggers Funeral Chapel, 6100 Azle Avenue, Lake Worth, Texas 76135 with a recitation of the Holy Rosary to commence at 6 p.m.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (the Wall) in Washington, D.C. (www.vvmf.org)
John L. was born May 17, 1950, to Tony and Vera (Nemeth) Rotundo in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended schools in Cleveland and graduated in 1968. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and after Basic Training, AIT and Jump School, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Since there was a war going on in Vietnam, he volunteered for service in Vietnam. He was originally assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, but after arriving, he was approached to volunteer and serve with Charlie Company, 75th Infantry Airborne Rangers. He was accepted and after in-country Ranger training, was assigned and served 18 months in Vietnam, 15 of those with Charlie Company, 75th Infantry Airborne Rangers. Upon returning, he was assigned back to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
In June of 1971, his unit was temporarily assigned to assist in training cadets at West Point Military Academy in New York. It was during this time he met what was to be the love of his life, Louisa Pagliaroli, who lived within an hour from West Point in the town of Piermont, New York. She had driven up to visit a friend she went to school with, and fate introduced her to John L.
As luck would have it, after returning to Fort Bragg, he was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey which was located near McGuire AFB. For two months, his TDY (Temporary Duty Assignment) was to make a jump from C141 aircraft to assist Air Force navigators to identify and unload paratroopers in the right drop zone. Since this was only a few hours from Piermont, New York, he was able to see Louisa every weekend in November and December.
They were married in September 1972 in Piermont, New York, and the same year he began his career with The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, now Bridgestone Tire, in Cleveland, Ohio. During his 42 plus year career he held various sales and management positions, and his family lived in several different cities. It was when they lived in the Chicago area, he became re-acquainted with a good friend Don Ericson, who served in the Rangers with him in Vietnam. Together they co-authored their memoirs into a book called "Charlie Rangers".
In 1993 he and his family moved to Texas where they have lived since. He was a member of Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Fort Worth, 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, Council 10930, VFW and American Legion.
John L. is survived by his wife, Louisa Rotundo of Fort Worth. Newest members of the "Dead Dad Club" are daughter, Karen "Punkin" Jones and husband, Brandon Jones of Fort Worth, son, Rocco "Spuds" Rotundo of Weatherford, and daughter, Laurie Ann "Poop" Rotundo of Euless; four grandchildren, Terah, Natalie, Taylor and Mathew; one great-grandson, Beau, one great-granddaughter, Ava; brothers, Alan Rotundo and wife, Marlene of Vermillion, Ohio., Ronald Rotundo and wife, Renee of Cincinnati, Ohio; sister-in-law, Shirley Rotundo of Plattsmouth, New England; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Vera Rotundo; brothers, Tony Rotundo of Plattsmouth, New England, and brother, David and sister-in-law, Luba Rotundo of Portsmouth, Virginia.
AIRBORNE!!!
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3 Entries
Laurie "Poop"
June 2, 2025
You were the best father a girl could ask for. Sure, I was a brat (hence the nickname of Poop that you gave me early on), and we didn't see eye to eye when I was younger, but we sure grew to be the best of friends along the way. I'll miss our games of rummy and war, jamming to "good tunes," eating your ribs, steaks and meatballs, sharing a glass of vino (or 2, or 4...), sharing stories from the latest Readers Digest, your cheesy jokes, the belly laughs we shared complemented with knee slaps, volunteering together the past 4 years at the DFW National Cemetery every Christmas laying wreaths for the vets (where you now rest), and all the travels and memories we shared not only together, but as a family. We had a special bond Pops, and you were the best of the best. Some might even say, "Unforgettable."
Til we meet again...
AIRBORNE!
Jeff Murray
May 24, 2025
I met John thru Roll Call and we ate many lunches together, sharing stories of our time in Vietnam. His illness surprised us but being a graduate of Agent Orange University myself we perhaps shouldn't have been. John was a warrior and is at peace now. Rangers Lead the Way.
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