John Anthony Vita Jr.

Vita, John Anthony Jr.
POUGHKEEPSIE - John Anthony Vita Jr. peacefully entered into eternal rest on September 21, 2025, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. Born on December 22, 1939 in Albany, N.Y., he was the son of the late John Anthony Vita Sr. and Julia Angeline (DeRocco) Vita. He was raised in Castleton, N.Y., and graduated from Maple Hill High School in 1958.
In February 1959 he entered the Naval Academy in Great Lakes, Ill. It was there that he developed a close friendship with Navy Chaplain Father Hubbell. He was stationed in Sanford, Fla., and received an honorable discharge from the Navy in January, 1964.
It was on a blind date on New Year's Eve, 1961, that John met the love of his life, Sharon Margaret Apa. It was the start of a romance of a lifetime for them. On May 11, 1963, he and Sharon married in Athens, N.Y. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.
John's first job was with William's Press in Albany. He would later take what he called his first leap of faith, when he was recruited by his cousin to start a career with Equitable Life Assurance in 1969. Then in 1974, he would take yet another leap when he was asked to move his then young family down to Poughkeepsie to head a new district office. John spent the next 39 years creating a legacy in the Tax-Sheltered Annuity market. He was proof that you did not need to have a college degree in order to succeed in life. He always reminded his family that you can do anything you put your mind to. In addition to being named the Albany Agency Agent of the Year too many times to count, he also received several prestigious company and industry awards, including the Order of the Excalibur, the Hall of Fame Award in 1981, Equitable Honor Agent in 1991, the Summit Award twice, Hallmark IV Award, as well as countless Million Dollar Round Table awards and Centurion awards. Equitable's National Agents Forum named an award after John because of all that he did for the company. The awards he garnered in his career were a direct result of helping his clients save for their retirement. Years after he retired, his clients would continue to thank him for helping them save so they could enjoy their retirement.
While his career accomplishments were amazing, his legacy was his five children, born within five years. He lived to see them grow up, start families of their own, and nurture their families and build careers.
John had a pure love for dogs, especially golden retrievers. He had eight dogs in his lifetime, including five goldens, three that were named Dudley (after his favorite actor Dudley Moore), Ashley, and most recently a rescue named Reagan, who probably left the biggest hole in his heart when he passed about two years ago.
John had a passion for sports, which led him to getting involved with CYO basketball at St. Martin de Porres school, as both a director of the program and a coach. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play over the years. He loved to talk about his favorite teams, the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Boston Celtics and New York Yankees. John was an avid deer hunter, although he never came home with a trophy. His most favorite pastime was golf. After his retirement in 2013, he and Sharon moved to Hendersonville, N.C., so he could enjoy golfing more. After a couple of unfortunate back surgeries that made golfing almost impossible for him, he and Sharon made the decision to return to Dutchess County in 2018, setting roots in Wappingers Falls to be closer to their family. It was then that he started enjoying bocce again, playing in the league where they lived. Despite his Parkinson's, he was an excellent bocce player.
John was generous beyond his years. Many charities found a place in his heart, but probably none as much as Special Olympics New York. For several years he spearheaded the annual LETR golf tournament at the Links in Union Vale and the Polar Plunge at Camp Mariah in Fishkill, helping to raise countless donations for the charity.
In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his mother and father-in-law, Ralph C. and Jeanette L. Apa; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Camillo and Jeanne DeBenedictus, Michael and Margaret Apa, Susan Apa and Rayfield Drowne; nephew, Dean Apa; and sister, Lois Tuohey.
John is survived by his wife, Sharon; his five children and spouses, Jeanne-Marie Vita, Andrea (Gregory) Loussedes, John (Winifred) Vita, Kelli (John) Caine, and Michael Vita; his grandchildren, Nicholas, Anthony, John IV, Julianna, Camille, Joei, Brandon and Ryan; as well as a great-grandson, Luca; his sister, Joyce Vita; brother-in-law, Ralph Apa; and sister-in-law, Marie Drowne; as well as several nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all.
The family is grateful to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital and Hudson Valley Hospice for the care they provided John during the past couple of weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Hudson Valley Hospice, The Parkinson's Foundation, or Special Olympics New York, in his name.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, 2 to 6 p.m., at the Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12603. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., at St. Martin de Porres Church, 118 Cedar Valley Rd., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12603. Entombment will follow in the Community Mausoleum at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc. If you wish to send an online condolence, please visit our website www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com