John Paul Tomasini passed away peacefully at his home just short of his 100th birthday with his children by his side the morning of March 21, 2024.
Born on July 8, 1924, in Pittsburg, California to Italian immigrants, Rinaldo and Guiseppina (Aspesi) Tomasini. He attended Pittsburg High School where he met his loving wife, Katherine Lombardo. They were married for 73 beautiful years, raising their family in Antioch, California and traveling around the world together before she passed away in 2019.
He served his country honorably in World War II as a staff sergeant in the 25th infantry division in the South Pacific and was awarded the Purple Heart. As a skilled carpenter, he built a successful career as a construction supervisor for over 30 years, building residential homes in Contra Costa County.
John had many hobbies such as hunting, fishing, winemaking, and playing bocce ball. His greatest passion was diving for abalone on the Mendocino coast where they had a second home for over 40 years. John and Katherine shared a love for travel and spent many happy years exploring the world together. John was one of the few remaining men of that generation of Americans who lived through the great depression and came of age during the Second World War. He cherished the time with his family and will be remembered for his boundless enthusiasm in all his pursuits. John will be missed and fondly thought of by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His family and friends take comfort in the truly wonderful long life he was able to live.
He was preceded in death by his wife Katherine and his brother Armand. He is survived by his sister Gloria McCoy and his three children: Ronald Tomasini of Pismo Beach, John Tomasini of Portland, Oregon, and Joanne Woodyard (Marc) of Brentwood. He is also survived by two grandchildren Marc Woodyard Jr. and Ashley Woodyard.
Family and friends are invited to a Funeral Mass on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel, 2200 East 18th Street, Antioch, CA 94509.
