John Paul Ferrara

John Paul Ferrara "Jonutz" John died at home in San Francisco on Sept. 17, 2007 with his family and dearest friends around him. He was 54 years young and was taken too soon by cancer. John was a Vietnam combat veteran, and in his 25 years at PacBell was an active union participant, an enthusiastic 49ers fan, a champion tailgater, a great cook and an inveterate reader, especially of his favorite author Hunter S. Thompson. He loved jazz and in recent years took up the saxophone, getting pretty good for someone who had no sense of ... timing. More recently he started making wine, leaving us a cask of new red which his friends will complete and bottle and which we will all drink to our fond memories of him. Known to many friends and loved ones as "Jonutzo," he was the essence of warmth, great humor and bred-in-the-bone, deep-in-the-core goodness. Spending time with John - just knowing him has been something special in all our lives, and our loss is greater than we yet know. His wife Judy Olasov; and his three daughters: Lyssa Jo Olasov King (Alex King), Becka Lee Ferrara Olasov, and Jenna Suzanne Olasov Ferrara survive him and were at his side. His granddaughters, Rosalie Isabella Olasov King and Alena Adrienne King will miss their Pappa. His sister Deborah A. Ferrara, and nephew, Stephen A. Ferrara also survive him. His many aunts, uncles and cousins, and his old buddies, Dr. Vinnie Boombatz and Vincent J. Scarfarelli, also survive him. John's father, Vincent Ferrara, died in 1968 when John was 15. His brother Tom (Guy Thomas Ferrara), died in 1984; and his mother Pauline Sciacca Ferrara Bauermeister, died in 1991. Funeral services will be held today, Wed, Sept. 19 at 1:30pm at Sinai Memorial Chapel, 1501 Divisadero St. at Geary Blvd., SF, with Interment to follow at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, Colma, CA. In lieu of flowers the family requests charitable contributions in John's memory.