Obituary for John W. Petrillose Sr.
The Ithaca Journal, Mar 25 1999, P. 4, Cols. 5-6.
"John W. Petrillose Sr., passed away in Lakeland Regional Hospital, Florida after a short illness on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1999, his ninety sixth birthday.
He was born in Afragola, Italy on March 19, 1903 the son of Guiseppe (Joseph) and Concetta Delmonte Petrillose. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Ruth Goff Petrillose October 31, 1992.
John was proprietor with his wife, Ruth, of Johnny's Coffee Shoppe, later becoming the landmark Johnny's Big Red Grill in Collegetown, for over sixty years. For many of those years, the restaurant hosted training meals for various Cornell athletic teams.
An avid sports enthusiast, John was one of the founding members fo[sic] the Cornell Coffee Club that supported Cornell Athletics. This was before the inception of the boosters concept.
John was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a former member of the Collegetown Advisory Board for Fleet Bank, and the East Hill Business Association.
He is survived by a daughter, Connie Yochum (Philip), Avalon, New Jersey. Also, sons, John Jr. (Barbara) and Robert Sr. (Sharon) Petrillose of Ithaca. Grandchildren, Robert Petrillose, Jr. (Mimi), Elmira, New York, Dr. Michael Petrillose, Las Vegas, Nevada, Renee Croyle (Stephen), Ithaca, New York, Cynthia Ruth Fessick (John) Wayne, Pennsylvania, Sharon Mueller (Michael), Elmira. New York, Laurie Joughin (Leslie), Tampa, Florida, Philip Yochurn Jr. (Camile Churchill), Houston, Texas, Cristina Petrillose, Las Vegas. Nevada. Great-grandchildren, Lindsay, Margaret, Christopher Petrillose, Kate and Morgan Ainslie, Garrett, Emma and Alexandar Mueler. Sister, Mary Harris (Richard), Signal Mountain, Tennessee, brothers, Anthony Petrillose (Antoinette), Ithaca, New York, and pre-deceased by sister, Pompelia Leone, brothers, Jack, Jim. George, and Emilio Petrillose.
He was a Communicant of Immaculate Conception and Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Churches."