Obituary of John S. Altavilla, Sr.

John S. Altavilla, who through hard work and dedication built a successful seven-decade career as a trusted auto mechanic, died Sunday at his home after a lengthy illness. He was 92.

Born in New York City in 1933 to Gandolfo and Teresa (Speciale) Altavilla, he was raised during the height of the depression and acutely aware of the struggles his parents had faced providing for him and his older brother, Frank. It was a feeling he would carry with him for the remainder of his life.

John was raised in a large and happy family of aunts and uncles and cousins. Their antics provided an inventory of funny stories he shared throughout his life, never failing to draw a laugh from his audience. And it didn’t matter how many times he repeated the same stories. People laughed every time.

During high school, he developed an interest in cars – and how to fix them. After being an apprentice for a few years, in his 20s he opened his own shop, J&A Garage, on Harrison Street in Bridgeport. He would work there for approximately 40 years, cultivating a loyal group of close friends and clients whose friendships he cherished.

In 1955, he married his sweetheart, Anna Graselli, and within four years they had a son, John Jr., and a daughter, Patricia. After living a few years in a two-family home in Bridgeport, John and Anna moved into a new home in Trumbull in 1963, the place he would spend the remainder of his life.

John never took a vacation; he was too dedicated to his work and his customers to step away, even for a short time. But he still found time to take his family out for great dinners and trips to New York City to see the Car Show and Boat Show. After there would be dinner at Patsy’s, Yangtze River, or Luchow’s.

He never even got angry when it became clear that is son wasn’t interested in following his footsteps into the business. Even though he took his son to the shop for a few summers, teaching him how to change oil and fix breaks, it was clear that all John Jr. cared about was listening to the Mets on the radio with his beloved grandfather.

John loved flashy clothes and nice cars. He’d buy a new Cadillac every year and loved washing it every Saturday before coming home. He loved wearing ties, pocket squares, and suits from high-end stores.

He was also the most generous man in the world. He loved to tip. He would invite people to his house and give them a bottle of scotch on their way out. He never let anyone he was with pick up a check. He not only supported his family and built a home, but he looked after nieces and nephews, providing meals, money, and even cars to make their lives easier.

He was a great and loving man, who sang Happy Birthday on the phone to each of his family members every year. And we will miss him very much.

John was predeceased by his parents, brothers Ricky and Frank, and his wife, who died in 2017 after 62 years of marriage.

He is survived by his son and his wife, Marilyn, his daughter, his granddaughter Jenny and her husband Chris Giordano, his grandson Christopher and his beautiful great granddaughter, Nina Mae Giordano, who turned 2 earlier this month.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Margaret Shrine, 2523 Park Ave., Bridgeport. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may greet the family on Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org). For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com.