John A. LoBianco Sr.'s Obituary
John A. LoBianco, Sr. died , at home, on September 17, 2017,.at the age of 100 years. He was predeceased, on November 7, 2013 by his beloved wife , Edna, with whom he shared 72 years of marriage.
John was born on January 1, 1917 to Salvatore LoBianco and Anna Circ in Brooklyn N.Y., where they, and his brother Charles, lived until John was five years of age. At that time, the family relocated to Hillside, N.J. There, he graduated from Hillside High School and, later, Rutgers University. He formed a successful construction company, specializing in the remodeling of homes (White Re-Construction), until an invitation from Uncle Sam, put a stop to his civilian endeavors. John was drafted into the US Army , where he served during World War II, with the 148th Infantry,37th Division in the Philippine Islands. Upon discharge, as a Major, in 1946, he returned to New Jersey, where he opened and ran a kitchen appliance store. In 1948 he moved the family, now enlarged by two children, to St. Petersburg. There he worked at Mass Brothers kitchen appliance department until he left to join the Chips Restaurant organization. He was fascinated by the introduction of pre-fabricated buildings and went to work selling diners for the Mountain View Diner Company. In 1952 he opened the SPOT Diner on the corner of 4th street and Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg. His business quickly expanded to seven locations, in St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Orlando and Daytona Beach. Two more children joined the family. His attention to running seven restaurants took John away from the family for significant periods of time and he chose to return closer to home where he , in succession, owned a dry wall contracting company, a Maryland Fried Chicken Franchise and developed several multifamily projects in mid-Pinellas County. John loved to be involved in business, but finally, at age 92 and at the request of his wife , he was persuaded to retire. He had a active mind to the end, and was frustrated that physical limitations made it impractical for him to pursue “projects.” The family became one of the original members of The Cathedral of St. Jude. John was an avid reader and stamp collector until macular degeneration made those pursuits impossible. He was a devoted father and grandfather always ready with help, advice and was generous to all.
He never failed to let his family know how proud he was of them. The grandchildren, in particular, knew that if all else failed, they could ask Granddad . He will be greatly missed.
In addition to his wife, John was predeceased by his parents, brother Charles LoBianco and nephew, Robert.
He is survived by four children: Joan LoBianco Walker (David Seth), James J. LoBianco (Karen), Kenneth A. LoBianco (Patricia) and John A. LoBianco, Jr. (Robin), eleven grandchildren, Stacy, Jason and Alexandra Walker, Amy Sanford, Christine Wallace and James E. LoBianco, Christina Mullin,,Sean LoBianco and Kenneth A. LoBianco, Jr. and Rachel LoBianco, John A. LoBianco III. and eleven great grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous loving and attentive nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who generously helped him during his last years. John was blessed to have special neighbors who performed may acts of kindness for him, and they are greatly appreciated.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Mary Douglas who provided attentive care to both our parents for fourteen years, the last four of which were devoted to the care of our father, and to Pam McCann , Kristen Symonds and the others, whose kindness and compassion made it possible for him to remain in the home he loved. He will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations to The American Red Cross, Hurricane Relief.
Guests will be received at Memorial Park Funeral Home,5750 49th Street North on Friday September 22 from 7 to 9 PM. A funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, at 1 PM followed by interment at Memorial Park Cemetary. There will be a reception, after interment which will be held at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
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