John Vito Vaccarello

John Vito Vaccarello

December 17, 1936 – September 21, 2026

John Vito Vaccarello, known lovingly to his friends as “Vacc” and to his grandchildren as “Pop,” passed away peacefully on September 21, 2026, at the age of 89. Born on December 17, 1936, in the Bronx, New York, he was the son of the late Giovanni “John” Vaccarello and Sarah (Guido) Vaccarello.

Growing up in the Bronx, John spent his youth playing sports and helping out at Carita Food Market, his family’s corner grocery store in Mount Vernon. From an early age, he stood out for his magnetic personality and his two great passions of baseball and singing. At Evander Childs High School (Class of 1954), he was the star pitcher, famously throwing a one-hitter against DeWitt Clinton in the New York championship game his senior year to lead his team to a 4-0 victory.

While attending Westchester Community College, John’s pitching talent caught the eye of major league clubs. During his second year of college, he was scouted by both the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Braves organizations, ultimately signing a contract with the Braves to pitch for their minor league affiliate, the Atlanta Crackers. While John was pitching in Georgia, his sweetheart, Dorothy Munno, whom he had met at a church dance, remained home in New York.

When an arm injury ended his professional baseball career, John transitioned with characteristic resilience. He served in the United States Army Reserves, where he continued living out his passion on the mound for the military baseball team. Upon returning home, he assisted his father with his dry-cleaning business before following his own entrepreneurial spirit back into the grocery industry. John went on to open and successfully operate two of his own IGA markets in Mount Vernon and Scarsdale for nearly four decades.

On June 6, 1959, John and Dorothy were married at Immaculate Conception Church in the Bronx, beginning a devoted partnership of 67 years. They soon welcomed their eldest daughter, Maryellen, while living in their first Bronx apartment, before buying their first house in Mount Vernon, where daughters Darlene and Michele were born. The family later settled in Rockland County, New York, where they lived for nearly 30 years and created a lifetime of cherished memories.

After spending time living near family in Northern Virginia, John and Dorothy moved to Barnegat, New Jersey, where they were pioneering residents of “The Mirage,” a 55+ community. As beloved pillars of the neighborhood for over 20 years, John organized countless activities including softball, stickball, and bowling leagues, while he and Dorothy helped lead the Italian American Club. Even in retirement, John stayed connected to his love for food and hospitality, working alongside his dear friend, Rob Kay, in catering.

In 2019, John and Dorothy spent memorable time living in Dallas, Texas, supported by their nephew Billy Quinn and his wife, Stacey. The move brought them close to John’s younger sister, Doreen, her husband, Bill, and their extended family of nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. In 2022, John and Dorothy relocated to Bluffton, South Carolina, making their home at Okatie Pines Retirement Community. True to form, John’s gift for bringing people together never dimmed; he quickly threw himself into his new neighborhood, organizing numerous clubs and activities that earned him warm friendships and affection, just as he did everywhere else throughout his life.

Above all, John’s greatest joy was his family. To his grandchildren, he was simply “Pop”—a constant, loving presence who rarely missed a game, recital, or milestone. Among his recent highlights, he proudly celebrated two family weddings over the past year. He danced, ate well, and savored the company of those he loved most.

A lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants, Pop passed his adoration for sports and his competitive spirit down through the generations. Whether at the card table or any other family game, he taught everyone to play with passion and, above all, to cherish simply being together. His family proudly carries on that legacy and knows his spirit will always light up every gathering.

His grandchildren fondly remember him lifting them onto his shoulders when they were little, singing with pure joy:

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

My, oh my, what a wonderful day

Plenty of sunshine headin' my way

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

John was predeceased by his older brother, Nicholas Vaccarello. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy Munno Vaccarello; his three daughters, Maryellen Pearson (Barry), Darlene Eichner (Pat), and Michele Johnson (Howard); his younger sister, Doreen Quinn (Bill); his seven cherished grandchildren, Tyler Pearson (Samantha), Collin Pearson, Kylie Pearson, Meghan Eichner (Jayson), Patrick Eichner (Callie), Katelyn Johnson, and Kyle Johnson; as well as a large and loving extended family of nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

John lived a full life marked by family, community, sport, and song. He will be remembered for his warmth, his storytelling, his competitive spirit, his infectious enthusiasm, and the magical way he made every grandchild feel like the center of the universe.

Services & Memorial Information:

Funeral Mass:

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 16, 2026 at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church (31 St Gregory Dr, Bluffton, SC 29909).

Greeting: 10:00 AM

Mass: 10:30 AM

In Lieu of Flowers:

Memorial donations may be made in John’s honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.