John C. Ortolani
John C. Ortolani
December 1, 1949 ~ March 21, 2023
John Charles Ortolani, Jr., was born December 1, 1949, in Rochester to John C. & Teresa (Nucci) Ortolani. His father worked as a bartender at Crescent Beach for as long as anyone can remember, while his mom worked and retired from the telephone company. He loved and respected his parents tremendously but would always give them a run for their money growing up. He and his older sister, Diane grew up in Greece, and he attended Paddy Hill for grade school. In 6th grade at intramurals, John met Jack Risio. Little did they know that this encounter would create a special brotherly bond that would last to this day. John went to Greece Arcadia for high school, he was involved in the student council and was the head of the service core on the student government committee. He graduated from Arcadia in 1967 and went on to St. Lawrence University where he played football for the Saints.
After college John joined the Rochester Police Department for several years before realizing his fate in Car Sales/Management.
Through the years you could find John working at any number of the large or small dealerships in Rochester. He was a human calculator, a genius with numbers, and an excellent talker, which made him successful in his career. He was often recognized as the leader in sales. He was a people person, easy to talk to, easy to trust and relate to, upfront, and straightforward. This trait had people following him throughout his career no matter which dealership he was working for, whether it was to purchase a car or just for solid trustworthy advice.
John has 3 children, Melissa Jean, John Charles, and Melinda Ann with their mom, Jean Levis Ortolani. Jean and John were married for more than 30 years total, They spent time boating, and at their cottage in the 1000 Islands. John and his kids were very close and shared a special bond that grew stronger and stronger as the kids grew older. They spoke on the phone daily and texted multiple times each day....... It was a running joke between them because the kids knew if they texted Dad - he would call them back repeatedly until they answered.
He loved boating. It was a passion of his. His boat was named "Tuza Charm" and if you were lucky enough to go for a ride, you'd most definitely be heard coming from far away, because he would be jammin out to his music. He loved all kinds of music, from the oldies, The Beatles, and country to pop & Hip/Hop, but whenever "Baby Got Back" came on he would for sure be belting that out.
John had many things he enjoyed doing. He took great pride in mowing patterns into his meticulous lawn when he was living in Rochester. He enjoyed snow blowing his driveway sometimes in his shorts since he rarely wore pants after moving to Florida. He would often end up doing the neighbor's driveways as well. He loved playing word games, mostly Wordle, and enjoyed pointing out mistakes in movies. He loved to be challenged. He appreciated and enjoyed a good martini. He did not like to wait in line and hated being late. He'd always say "If you're on time, you're already late." He would be outside waiting in the car with it running before anyone in the family was even done getting ready.
John's grandchildren meant the world to him. There is nothing he wouldn't do for them. Whether it was giving the best hug ever, offering up his advice, or telling a good ole laugh till it hurts kind of joke... Brianna, Sammy, Drew, Maddy & Colby lit up his life. He was always sure to frequently let them all know how wonderful they are and how much he loved them.
On March 31, 2012, John married Linda (Meier) in Florida. Florida is where they decided to spend their retirement years. They traveled as often as they could in their motorhome or using their timeshare to travel to Aruba. They also belonged to a boat club which allowed them to rent boats from many different marinas and locations whenever they wanted. John and Linda were big Netflix series binge-watchers. They also enjoyed crafting together and selling their things at local flea markets or on Etsy. Yes - John was crafty!!!
John had a love for small dogs. When he and Linda got together, her 3 dogs made him very happy. When they got Jasmine, a teacup yorkie, - they were an inseparable duo. She was spoiled and could always be found perched on his chest or shoulder while he napped or sat in his recliner!
He played the guitar when he was younger and in retirement. He would also play the Ukulele which he loved. He played and entertained and sang with his friends at the community center talent shows. It brought him great joy to spend time with Missy in Florida - him playing the Ukulele and Missy playing the guitar. He never missed an opportunity to sing to his kids and grandkids... often embarrassing them through the years.
John loved with everything he had to give. He is a true legend, with a larger-than-life personality. He was charming, inquisitive, happy, protective, and loud. He was never quiet, even when trying to whisper he just couldn't. He was always smiling, the center of every room. A jokester, and a ballbuster, and made friends wherever he went. He gave the best hugs and the greatest advice whether you asked for it or not, he was always there to guide you.
He lived his last moments with great happiness and anticipation in his heart. He was set to head to Rochester to spend time with his family and friends in August and then was planning on heading to Aruba to finally meet his 1st great-grandson Lyden in person. He was overjoyed at the thought of this trip. He was so proud of his children and his grandchildren, and all that they'd accomplished in their lives.
He spent every day grateful to be living his life and always planning his next adventure. He left a lasting impact on everyone he met along the way. His absence will be felt for a very long time.
John C. Ortolani, Jr. of Ruskin, FL/Rochester- Passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the age of 73 in Ruskin, FL. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Meier) Ortolani; his children, Missy Shannon, John Ortolani, & Mindy (Jeremy Smith) Leckinger; their mother, Jean Levis Ortolani; grandchildren, Brianna Shannon, Sammy (Austin) Farlow, Andrew Leckinger, Maddison Leckinger & Colby Leckinger; great-grandson, Lyden; sister, Diane Durbin; aunt, Grace (Lawrence) Amico; sisters-in-law, Pam Meier, Patty (Lenny) Hernandez; brother-in-law, Gordy Meier; many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews & dear friends.
John's memorial service will be celebrated, Saturday, April 29th, at 11:00 AM at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane, 14626, (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.).