John F. Wassenbergh Jr. passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the age of 75, in his home and in the loving arms of his family.

John was born on June 28, 1950, in the Bronx, New York, to Dorothy Foley Wassenbergh and John Francis Wassenbergh Sr. He attended St. John School on Kingsbridge Avenue, Manhattan Prep High School, and Manhattan College.

From a young age, John was an avid sportsman, playing basketball, football, baseball, and countless street games that filled his childhood with camaraderie and joy.

John’s upbringing was deeply shaped by his parents. His father, affectionately known as “Wassie” by John and Caroline’s children, was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II who went on to build a successful career in business. John often described him as a straight-shooting businessman who worked hard and supported his family. His mother, lovingly called “Dossie” by her grandchildren, was classically nurturing - showering John with warmth and affection—qualities that became the foundation of John’s own kind-hearted nature.

During his teenage years, John continued to play sports and spent cherished summers with his family at their bungalow in Rockaway Beach, New York. He fondly reminisced about days spent fishing, swimming in the ocean and Jamaica Bay, enjoying the beach, and evenings at Rockaway’s Playland. For John, Rockaway would prove to be more than a treasured place of youth—it was where his future truly began.

It was there, at age fifteen, that John met his future wife, Caroline Della-Volpe, also a Bronx native. They loved to tell the story of how John, body surfing a wave into shore, first met Caroline in a moment of youthful serendipity. Their friendship grew over the years, sustained through time and distance while Caroline attended boarding school at Mary Immaculate in Ossining and Misericordia Nursing School in the Bronx and John continued his education at Manhattan College. They reunited at a birthday party at the age of 21, and from that moment forward, they knew their lives would be shared. John and Caroline were married on September 9, 1972 and began their married life in Riverdale, NY.

Over the next eleven years, they moved from Riverdale to Rockaway Beach, welcoming five children: John III, Frank, Joe, Paul, and Jennifer. Their years as a young family were filled with laughter, warmth, and togetherness. John’s children and their friends recall a home rich with joy, where family and lifelong friendship were equally nurtured. John was, at heart, a devoted father—not only to his own children, but in spirit to nearly everyone he met.

John and his family shared countless joyful moments together in their homes. Life on Beach 128th Street in Rockaway was marked by endless days on the beach and nights outside until the streetlights came on. Saturdays as a family brought the legendary “Saturday Night Treats,” - John and Caroline would pack the children into the Cadillac and drive to The Tobacconist on 116th Street, letting everyone choose candy and comic books until their heart was content—often bringing extras home for the kids on the block.

As the family grew, they settled in Rockville Centre, New York, where John built his beloved garage workshop. There, he could fix, build, or plant just about anything. He shared his love of projects with his children, tended a beautiful garden with Caroline, and spoiled his dogs endlessly. Neighborhood children frequently stopped by when something needed fixing or a ball needed air, and John—coffee or Coca-Cola in hand—was always ready to help. His open garage became a gathering place, often leading to backyard barbecues with friends that grew into honorary family members.

The family also treasured many years at their vacation home in Lake Monticello, Virginia. John delighted in teaching his children about the region’s rich history, relaxing on the screened porch listening to birds, rafting down the James River, swimming in the lake, and exploring Charlottesville together.

John’s work sometimes took him farther afield, to places like St. Thomas and Key West, where he pursued one of his favorite pastimes: scuba diving. He found great joy in exploring shipwrecks and diving to remarkable depths.

As a lover of history, John was an avid reader of the classics as well as both historical works and fiction novels. He had a deep appreciation for the written word, language and grammar. He also loved music, introducing his children to the joys of music by top artists from the 50’s through the 80’s. He loved Doo-Wop, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, and many others.

As a father, John was exceptional. Calm, steady, and quietly authoritative, he led with love, integrity, and empathy. He delighted in his children, celebrated every accomplishment, never sweated the small stuff, and included them in all aspects of his life. Discipline, when necessary, was delivered with fairness and respect, always meant to teach rather than diminish. His leadership—rooted in dignity and compassion—was a defining gift.

The same wonderful qualities shaped John’s professional life. At 21 years old, John started his career in the telecommunications industry, learning every facet of business from the ground up. While John saw benefits in formal education, he truly believed the best school anyone could attend was the school of life. He was always proud to be able to relate to colleagues at every level of their career, having experienced it all for himself as well. Over the years, he held various senior positions within the industry at TF Jackson, Williams Communications, Wiltel Communications Systems, and Shared Technologies.

John loved his work and the people he worked with. He was known for doing whatever it took to deliver for his customers and was never above any task, no matter his title. Colleagues often remembered him as an “icon of the industry,” “the best boss I ever had,” or “the one who gave me my start.” To John, integrity mattered more than credentials, and kindness was never optional.

After retiring in 2014 following a five-decade career, John devoted himself fully to family life—his wife, children, and beloved grandchildren. Even in his final years, he remained a source of wisdom, humor, and comfort. People sought him out for advice, conversation, learning, or simply to sit together and laugh. John had a rare gift: when you were with him, you felt like the only person in the room. You always left him feeling better than when you arrived.

In life, John believed deeply in optimism and often quoted, “’Tis better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” He encouraged others to take initiative, seek solutions, value the details in everything, especially interpersonal relationships, and never accept “good enough” when better was possible. He never passed up the opportunity for a smile, wink or a good laugh.

John will be greatly missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him.