John F. DeSio

John F. DeSio, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Monday, January 30, at home at the age of 71. A Stapleton native and longtime West Brighton resident, Mr. DeSio passed away following a two-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

A graduate of Immaculate Conception School and a member of Curtis High School’s Class of 1969, Mr. DeSio became a member of the New York City Police Department in 1973. He served as a police officer until his retirement in 1995, largely working in the 6th Precinct covering Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. He took great pride in his service to the City and enjoyed telling stories from his days walking a beat.

In 1994 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Services from SUNY-Empire State College.

Mr. DeSio was a basketball coach for the better part of four decades. He was the head coach of the Concordia College women’s basketball team from 2010-2014, and also served as an assistant for the women’s basketball teams at Mercy College, CUNY-City College of Technology and Polytechnic University. In the 1990s he helped to run Wagner College’s basketball camps under coach Tim Capstraw and also served as a statistician for the college’s men’s team.

He was also a coach for a wide variety of boys and girls youth teams on Staten Island, including at Sacred Heart, St. Peter’s, the Academy of St. Dorothy’s, the Police Athletic League, Cromwell Center and the Snug Harbor Little League; and for the AAU basketball organizations the Queens Lady Magic and the Bronx Lady Hawks. He was also the head coach of the varsity softball team at St. Peter’s Girls’ High School for several seasons in the late 1990s.

Mr. DeSio was also active in politics and local civics. In 1995 Mr. DeSio and his family were named the Catholic Youth Organization’s “Family of the Year” for the New York Archdiocese. Mr. DeSio was also a member of Community Board #1 covering the Island’s North Shore from 2001-2007. He was an active volunteer for Barbara Panepinto’s 1996 campaign for Civil Court Judge and Steven Higgins’ 1997 campaign for Staten Island Borough President.

In his retirement he loved spending time with his grandchildren, as well as taking drives with his wife and best friend to explore thrift stores, flea markets, casinos and restaurants across the region.He was a lifelong New York Yankees and New York Jets fan and an avid Jeopardy enthusiast.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marcella (nee Gulbin); his children John Jr. and his daughter-in-law Meaghan Dolan; Matthew; and Marcella Nytz and his son-in-law John; his grandchildren John Nytz, Marcella Nytz and Joseph Edwin DeSio; his brother Louis and sister-in-law Donna (nee Cetrino) and his brother Vito and his brother-in-law Jose Ayala.

Viewings for Mr. DeSio will take place on Sunday, February 5, at Cherubini McInerney Funeral Home, 1289 Forest Avenue, from 2:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A memorial service will take place at the same location on Monday, February 6, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. DeSio’s family request that donations be made to the ALS charities Team Gleason (www.teamgleason.org) or Quinn For The Win (www.q4tw.com).