John H. Sforza Jr, 69, formerly of Wolcott, CT and now residing in Lutz, FL, passed away in the early morning hours of May 16th after a long, heroic battle with Leukemia. He was an avid shooter, excellent marksman and a former President of Wolcott Land Owner’s Protective Association. He attended Leavenworth High School in Waterbury where he was Captain of the football team and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1958. Following 4 years of honorable and exemplary service to his country, he returned home to marry his sweetheart Marguerite Larue of Bristol, CT and remained married to her for the rest of his life. Recently, they celebrated their 46th Wedding Anniversary. He then settled in Wolcott and went to work for, and eventually retired from Bristol Babcock Company of Naugatuck where he worked as a machinist, tool and die operator and shipping/supply manager. For a brief time, he also owned his own small business as a piano tuner and was in high demand for a select clientele in CT. He enjoyed being with his family and coaching sports. Many young men who played Little League Baseball or Pop-Warner Football remember him affectionately as “Coach Jack”. He is pre-deceased by his father John, his mother Anna, his brother Thomas and his sister Marie. He is survived by his wife, Marge, 3 sons and their families: David, Belinda, Katherine and Megan Sforza of Lutz, FL, Daniel, Danielle and Shane Sforza of Wolcott, CT and Christopher, Samantha and Jake Sforza of Wolcott, CT as well as many nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service at 5:00 PM, Thursday, May 21, 2009 at Grace Family Church, 5101Van Dyke Road, Tampa, FL 33558 with Pastor Fritz Ruhe, to officiate. There will also be a memorial service held 11:00 AM., June 13, 2009 at Saint Maria Goretti Church, 1300 Woodtick Road, Wolcott, CT # 06716. Condolences can be sent to the family at 17711 Jamestown Way, Apt# B, Lutz, FL 33558.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We have and will miss Uncle Jack. Please have peace he is no longer in pain. Our Love,
Todd, Angie, Mikaela and Julianna
Dad, you will be greatly missed. You were my hero, my role model and my brother Marine. I wish we could have spent many more years together because there is so much more that I wanted to learn from you. However, the last couple of years that we spent together wer very special and I consider them a gift from you. I will miss you Dad! I love you.
Marge, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayer.
Working with Jack for my 12 years at Bristol Babcock, was great. He was always helpful and very fun to talk to and work with. May God give him peace. My Thoughts and prayers to your family. God Bless.
My condolences on your loss. I knew jack from Bristol Babcock. Jack was a fun and caring gentleman . My thoughts and prayers. my he rest in peace. God bless you and your family .
Worked with Jack for 11yrs at Bristol Babcock – Great man a joy to work with .. may God bless him .. my thoughts and prayers to your family –God Bless..
My prayers and thoughts are with you all.I worked with Jack at bristol babcock wonderful man a joy to work with.May God bless him.
Marge and Sforza family,
I am so sorry to hear this sad, sad news. What a great guy Jack was! He will be sorely missed.
My sincere condolences the family. Marge I am so sorry.
God Bless you all.
Dave,
My thoughts and pryaers are with you and your family. I wish there was a way I could ease your pain. Your Dad WILL ALways be with you and will live on in beautiful memories and the great children he created.
Your friend,
Donna
I didn’t know Jack personally,I worked with Marge for many years.May God Bless you all in your time of Sorrow,May God be with him.
I will miss Jack terribly as he was my SOULMATE. I loved Jack from the first time I saw him. I knew after our first date that I would marry him and I did. Jack was a terrific person, great husband, father and loved by many. We just celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary. Jack, honey, may you rest in peace. GOD BLESS YOU. I love you and will miss you. MARGE
I really miss my pop pop. I loved him so much. I really wished he was still here. Love, Shane
I really miss my pop pop. I loved him so much. I really wished he was still here. Love, Shane
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I really miss my grandfather. He taught me many things. He was truly a great grandfather. My grandfather, Pop-Pop was loved by many and will be missed by many. I love him so much and will always remember him.
Love, Danielle
I will miss Pop-Pop terribly and I will never let him go. He will always be in my memories. He was a great father, brother, and grandfather to many. He will be missed forever and he will always be in our family in heaven or on Earth. We had our time with him and those times were great, he’s in heaven with God now.
love,
Katelynn
Margie,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I know you have the Faith that you need to carry you through this. Be well – Love you, Your SECO friend – Carmel
Gazing in The Sky
I looked into the night sky.
I looked and what did my eye’s spy,
Gazing in the sky.
A twinkle like no other!
One that had a certain kind of flutter.
Star light, like none other
Gazing in the sky
I didn.y realize, it was
A father, A brother
A Dad, like no other.
gazing in the sky
Now I know
Oh how the tears they did flow,
I’m sure you know.
gazing in the sky
I will always remember
Uncle Jack
with pride
Gazing in the sky.
Marge,
there are not any comforting words….memories of loved ones will live in our hearts forever.
Rita Longo
We pray for comfort and peace for all of you during this difficult time.
Dear Marge and the Sforza family. We will always cherish the years we spent together with our dear friends. Our thoughts, prayers and love are with you all.
Uncle Jack you were a wonderful man. I loved hearing all your stories at christmas. I loved watching you with the kids and how we all brought a smile to your face. To my aunt and cousins you are in my thoughts and prayers. My memories bring a smile to your face. The only thing I can think of now is that my grandmother has her baby brother with her.
Marge, you couldn’t have found a better husband. Jack will continue to watch over you. I am so sorry for your loss. God Bless You.
Aunt Marge,
I am so sorry for your loss. Uncle Jack was a great person, he always made me laugh when i was little. I will pray for you to help you get thru this difficult time. Lean on the ones who love you to help you in this time.
Love always your goddaughter
Marge Barnum
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
What a blessing you were in my life. You always had a kind word to say and a love for your family. What a blessing that you raised an awesome son in David and someone I am proud to call my friend. You will missed terribly by your family and friends but never forgotten. May the Lord bless you Mr. Sforza as much as you have blessed your family and friends.
Mr. Sforza will be greatly missed. We send our love to the family.
Confirmation of His divine presence has been generously and abundantly lavished upon the life of Mr. Sforza and continues to live in his family. It is extremely comforting to know that God is with us when we come into this world and when we leave. It is also wonderful to know of His presence for those left to endure for a short time longer on this side of heaven. We are looking forward to the heavenly reunion with all who have gone before us. Praying peace and comfort, Mike and Deb Gilbert
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sforza family. I have known the Sforza’s since I was a baby living across the street from them. I will miss Jack very much. He was a kind, thoughful person who will NEVER be forgotten.
Dave, Belinda, and Sforza family~ We are very sorry for your loss. Dave, what a treasure and gift that you were able to spend so much time with your dad over the last couple of years. I’m sure that time meant a great deal to him, as well.
Keeping your entire family in prayer.God bless.
Dave, Belinda and family. I’m truly sorry for your loss I know how much he meant to each and every one of you. You are in our thoughts and prayers
Margie: I am so sorry to hear about Jack’s passing.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Love,
Jan Chorzempa
Jack,I love you like a brother.You were a true Marine to the end.In the year that I’ve known you I found that we shared many things together,love of family,love of country,lots of laughter,and luekemia.We send our love and prayers to the family and we know that you will be watching over them from heaven.We love you Marge and we’ll always be here for you.
Dear Marge – I was so sorry to hear about Jack. You were such good neighbors when you lived on Orchard Lane in Wolcott – I can still see Jack sitting outside when I went for my nightly walks; he was always ready with a smile and a wave. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Marge, sorry for your loss our prayers are with you.
Marge, We were so sorry to hear about Jack. Some men leave their mark on the world by the way they live and the lives they touch. Jack was definitely one of those men. God bless you and your family
I was so sad to hear your news yesterday. Jack was a wonderful husband, neighbor, friend, and father. We enjoyed living next door, and having you visit when we moved to NY. My Mom always remarked about Jack and Gerry pushing over the old tree, G. on top, and G. pushing the botton, and then it went over with both of them tumbling too. Jack knew how to have fun, he worked hard and played hard and fair. He will be well missed, but God has him now, so we can all rest in peace. Love Lynne, Paul and Chelsea
Marge,Dave,Danny and Chris-you know for sure that he’ll be sadly missed by all our family.Great husband, father and Marine. You guys are in all our thoughts and prayers.
To Marge and the Sforza family, I am very sorry for your loss. Jack was a wonderful man and and a good friend to me during good times and bad. He will be greatly missed. May you all find strength in knowing he is now with the Lord and probably teaching him how to shoot trap.
To Marge and the Sforza family, I am very sorry for your loss. Jack was a wonderful man and and a good friend to me during good times and bad. He will be greatly missed. May you all find strength in knowing he is now with the Lord and probably teaching him how to shoot trap.
I am so sorry Aunt Marge… please tell everyone they are in my heart and in my thoughts, I didn’t realize you all were so close to us… Uncle Jack will be missed!! My love to all. Meg
I have known the Sforzas since I was 9 years old Jack was the greatest person,always a smile and a warm heart I am going to miss you so much Jack and Marge please make sure you call if you need anything
Marge, David, Danny, Chris and families:
Jack will be sorely missed by all of you but he is no longer suffering. He was a great husband to you Marge and a good father and Coach.
Marge remember what I said to you on the phone, you’re more than welcome to stay at my home when you come in June and whenever you need a place to stay. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Marge and family, my thought and prayers are with you. Jack was a wonderful person and he taught me so much during the time I knew him. He will always have a place in my heart and will be greatly missed.
We are very sadden by the passing of Jack. We knew him for a long time, and he was always a very kind and gentle person. We will miss him very much. Rest in Peace
Mrs. Sforza and family, our prayers and love are with you all.
My Uncle Jack was loved dearly and will be deeply missed. Auntie Margie, David and family, Danny and family, and Chris and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you all in your time of sorrow. He is now looking over us, watching us and protecting us. He is now at peace and no longer in pain. We all have our memories of him to make us smile. Our love and prayers go out to you all. Susie, Jalen, Jarrett and Jabreea.
Dearest Dave, Belinda and family, We are sorry for your loss of your your dad, Jack. We know that he was very special to you and his absents will be difficult. Our thought s and prayers are with you as we ask God’s comfort and peace to shower you and your mind. Sincerely, Ara and Carol
Dave, Belinda and family; Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and may the Comforter be your strength and give you peace.
Marge,
I am so sorry. He was such a wonderful man. He wiil be missed allot. We love you and also please tell the family that we send our depest sympathy.
Love,
Marcy and Tom
Marge and Family
Our Hearts and Prayers go out to you with Love and many Hugs. Jack will be surely missed,he is home with God and at peace but will remain in all our Hearts forever. God Bless You. Our Deepest Sympathy and Love
Mark and I have had the pleasure of working with Jack for many years. I’ll never for get the day he waitied for us to return from our wedding so he could page me over the intercom system. My name just cracked him up. He will be missed. Our love goes to you Marge and the whole family.
Love Mark and Kari
First I would like to offer my condolences to Jack’s entire family. I worked with Jack for over 25 years at Bristol and he was truly one of the good guys. He was a very proud Marine and even prouder of his family. I can remember more than once as he barked out order to the guys in the shipping department, I had to remind him that he wasn’t in the Marines any more. He would give me this stern look and then we would both laugh. He had a great sounding laugh.
God Bless, Jack
Aunt Marge, Uncle Jack was always a special uncle to me.I’ll never forget how you both let me stay over your house when I was young and how you took me special places and the fun we had.All those Christmas eves and family events we spent together.It’s those special moments and more that I will hold dear to my heart.I loved uncle Jack very much.Even with his tough exterior, I could always see the love and gentleness in his eyes.We will all miss him very much but I know my mom ,grandma,uncle Tom and grandpa must be very happy to be reunited with him again.Aunt Marge you and the boys and their families are in our thoughts and prayers.Love ,Sandy,Brian and family
The Sforza Family
So sorry for your loss. I know the past several daysmonths have been most difficult for you. Some one gave me this when my Mom passed and it has stuck with me forever. I hope you can enjoy the meaning of it as I do to this day. Know my prayers and thoughts are with you.
It is very difficult at first, but after awhile it’s like a room in your house. When you want to, you can go into the room and enjoy the memories, and then, when you are ready, you can leave and close the door behind you. The room is always there for you to re-enter when you feel the need. For the time Jack walked this earth, know, he brought much love and joy to all those around him and his family and friends. And he was loved in return. He touched the hearts, and lives of his family and others. He will always remain in the hearts of those people he touched.
May God give you comfort during this time.
Gail and Billy
New Britain, CT
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Our thougths and prayers are with you Marge and your family. Jack and I became supervisors together 30 years ago in the Bristol Co. He was not only a co-worker but he was a really geat friend. We had many good times together. Jack,you will truly be missed. God Bless You!
The ultimate coach!!!
Marge, I am very sorry for your loss. Heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I wanted to go to the memorial service but was unable to make it. Let’s try to get together, soon.
He left a legacy of sons and grandchildren, god bless all of you and your Mom…may she be strong with you boys around her! I love you alll. may your Dad rest in peace…Amen