John J. Ghidoni, of Plymouth, passed away peacefully on July 9 at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, surrounded by his loving family and his beloved soulmate, Rosalie F. (Mello) Ghidoni.
John was born in Plymouth on June 28, 1936, son of the late Mando and Mary (Balboni) Ghidoni. He was educated in Plymouth schools and graduated from Plymouth High School. John went on to serve his country in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. John then continued a life of helping others by joining the Plymouth Police Department, where he worked for seven years. He went on to bravely serve as a Plymouth firefighter for over 30 years. He was also a member of the Plymouth Firefighters local #1768.
John and Rosalie spent many blissful years traveling as a couple and with family. Favorite trips included traveling to their honeymoon destination, New Hampshire, and cruising with Rosalie to Bermuda. John also loved traveling New England to see plane shows, especially the Blue Angels, as well as classic car shows. During his high school years, John played on the high school football team and later on the US Army team. He was an avid New England Patriots and New York Yankees fan, always enjoying Rosalie’s game time meals with his family.
He loved spending time in the garden, growing bountiful veggies for family meals, picking tomatoes and beans with his children and grandchildren, and watching the birds feed from his collection of feeders. His best moments were spending time with his family: organizing clambakes, sipping coffee and munching cookies on the waterfront, singing along to Rosalie and his great grandchildren playing the piano and trombone, offering safe shoulders for napping babies, watching the boats on the Cape Cod Canal with Rosalie, making garlic salt and the most delicious puttanesca to share with loved ones, and sharing stories of his childhood with ever listening ears.
In addition to his devoted wife, Rosalie, with whom he would have been celebrating 68 years of marriage on July 15, he is survived by his children, Steven Ghidoni and his wife Jackie of Missouri, Carol Kuhn and her husband Francis of Plymouth, Nancy Paull and her husband Robert of Plymouth, and Michael Ghidoni of Plymouth. He was the brother of Robert Ghidoni of Michigan and Phyllis Baker of New Hampshire and was preceded in death by his sister Dolores Balonis, and Donald Ghidoni. John was the cherished grandfather of Kelly, Krystal, Shane, Shannon, Michael, Marc, Jason, and Jennifer. He was the great grandfather of Richie, Rowan, Kinley, Isla, Lulani, Kolbi, Ariana, Luca, and two new additions on the way.
Funeral services will be private. Cremation will be at Vine Hills Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Arrangements by Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home.