John F. Raniolo

John F. Raniolo, a native and lifelong resident of North Tarrytown, died January 29, 2016 at the age of 89. He was the son of Joseph & Mary (Martone) Raniolo.  He was born in North Tarrytown on October 30, 1926.  John Raniolo graduated from North Tarrytown High School. 

At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II.  He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Arena where he participated in the Invasion of Okinawa (Japan).  Prior to entering the war in the Pacific, he did his recruit training at the  Sampson Navel Training Base in Sampson, NY;  his military training in Davisville, RI;  went on to train in Unexploded Ordinance Management; and then completed Chemical Warfare Training at Port Hueneme, California. He received multiple honors for his military service, including the World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the American Defense Medal, the Sea Service Medal, the Overseas Service Medal, the Combat Service Medal, the Combat Action Medal, the Navy Service Medal, the Honorable Service Medal and the Victory over Japan Medal.  He was honorably discharged in 1946.

After his return home to North Tarrytown from the war, he attended and graduated with top honors from the Rhodes Prep School in New York City.  He subsequently attended MIT.  In 1949, he married his high school sweetheart, Rose Iacono, at St. Teresa’s Church in North Tarrytown.

He was a bricklayer by trade and a 69 year member of the Bricklayers, Masons and Allied Craftsmen, Local No. 27, Tarrytown, New York.  He first served as Local No. 27’s Corresponding Secretary and was later elected Business Agent of Local No. 27.   He served in that position as its union labor leader for the next 30 years until his retirement.

John Raniolo was also elected President of the Westchester-Putnam Council of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen; he was Vice President of the New York State Council of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen, AFL-CIO; and Vice President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Westchester and lower Putnam counties.  He also served as a board member of the Labor and Management Relations Board of the International Masonry Institute and was a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen, Washington, DC.  

John Raniolo was recognized by the Westchester-Putnam Affirmative Action Program, Inc. as a friend and supporter for his continued commitment to affirmative action and for always working to insure equal employment opportunity.  He was also a strong proponent and influential force in securing comprehensive benefits and safety programs for his members and their families, which underscores his firm commitment to their health, well being and improvement of quality of  life.  John was highly respected by the membership and his peers.  He will always be remembered for his honesty, integrity and fairness and will be sorely missed by all.

John is survived by Rose, his wife of 67 years, as well as his sons, Dr. Robert John Raniolo (and wife, Debra J. Zambrano), practicing surgeon and Chief of General Surgery at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY; Honorable Gary John Raniolo (and his wife, Georgeann Adams), Town Justice of the Town of Yorktown and practicing attorney-at-law in Tarrytown, NY; and David John Raniolo (Catherine Roberts).  He was also the loving grandfather of Gary John, Danielle, Megan, Ashley, Robert John and Heather Rose Raniolo. Also surviving is his sister Lillian Allevi residing in California. John was predeceased by his own little angel in heaven, his daughter, Barbara Jean Raniolo, and his sister, Mary Jane Auge.

Visitation will be at Coffey Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4 PM to 8 PM. His Funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, with interment and Military Honors to follow in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

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