John

Cuomo

John Cuomo was born on 42nd Street in New York City in 1926. When he was three, his
family returned to Italy because of the Great Depression. He was raised in
Massaquano, a rural community overlooking the Bay of Naples. When asked in third
grade what he wanted to be when he grew up, he told the teacher, "I want to be an
American." After WW II, when he was 20 years old, he sailed back to New York
aboard the USS Marine Shark with returning American soldiers. He arrived with $15 in
his pocket and two large cans of olive oil. He briefly went to Italy in 1950 and married
his sweetheart, Rosella DeGennaro. He returned to America and she later joined him in
1952. John Cuomo worked as a farmer, factory sweeper, shoe maker, and opera singer.
In 1962, he and his brother-in-law, Joe, opened Cuomo's Deli in North Bergen. In their
prime, they would make a hundred pounds of mozzarella per day. Cuomo's became the
piazza for the community in a country where piazzas didn't exist. In his later years, John
became an artist. Instead of mozzarella, his medium became clay. His clay birds and
wood sculptures are treasured by all who have them. His work ethic was as strong as
his prodigious imagination and love for his family and friends. John's house was always
filled with friends of various generations from all over the world. His friendship with
others is a testament to his innate love and understanding of people. He is survived by
three children Elizabeth, Yolanda, and Anthony, their spouses, and five grandchildren
Nicole, Gianni, Christopher, Luca, and Rosella. He died peacefully at the age of 98 at
home in the arms of his grandson Gianni and Gianni's wife Milly-May. John taught us
how to dream and work really hard. His love is forever in our hearts.