John Spano

John Spano, 83, of Bluffton, SC, passed away suddenly on January 30, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Sherry Merrow.

John was born and raised in Winthrop, MA. He graduated from Winthrop High School, class of 1959.

John lived a life full of adventure, humor, and dedication to family. He spent his winters in Bluffton and his summers at Ossipee Lake in Freedom, NH, where he enjoyed the mountains, the lake, and the company of loved ones.

John worked for many years as an insurance adjuster and investigator, primarily as an independent adjuster but also with AIG. He and a friend owned a small detective agency, and John loved recounting stories about their cases. For several years, he owned and operated a small breakfast and lunch restaurant in Braintree, MA, where he served as cook. John also served many years in the Army Reserves.

John never forgot his roots in Winthrop. In the summer he loved to drive from NH to Winthrop just to drive around his hometown, sometimes making the six-hour round trip more than once a week. He stayed in regular contact with high school friends and visited with them whenever he was in the area.

John had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to joke with people. He delighted in performing magic tricks for small children. An avid hockey fan, he took up the sport as an adult and played in both over-30 and over-50 leagues until moving from Massachusetts to South Carolina in 2006. His son Chris fondly remembers his father coaching his youth hockey team.

John enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing poker (though not gambling). For many years, he and Sherry also traveled around the United States in an RV, as well as taking winter trips to the Caribbean.

John is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sherry Merrow; son Christopher Spano and his wife Kelley, and grandson Logan of Douglas, MA; daughter Lisa Leventhal and her husband Steve, grandson Benjamin, and granddaughter Aliya of Easton, MA. He is also survived by his first wife, Carol Spano of Allentown, NH; his sister Ginger Disher; and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by four siblings.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bluffton Boys and Girls Club (www.bgcbluffton.org) or the charity of the donor's choice.