From Nick DeRosa

Hi Johns Daughters

Hearing of your Dad's passing has touched me in many different ways. As you know my father Angelo and John were soulmates their entire life. John and my father had a friendship that was deeper than any I have ever seen. They were always connected no matter how many miles separated them. It used to drive my mother crazy to hear about how John could solve anything and how my father would be eternally happy if only he would move to where John was living at the time. Now remember my father was afraid of his own shadow - he couldn't fly, was afraid of bugs, lizards and snakes. Never went camping and was somehow going to move to Hawaii with John and live off the earth. Now I heard my mother say to him for 40 years - "Just go live with John if he knows how to make you so happy." But as the days past, weeks past and years past my father could never leave the true love of his life his wife Irma. But it was always amusing to get that call from John Lodi each year about the newest adventure and how all my Dad needed was to follow John and he would be so happy if only he could get Irma to go.

Those phone calls were my fathers kryptonite - he cherished those calls and truly was re-energized for whatever life diificulties he faced at the time. they so needed each each other and no matter how many years apart they would spend a five minute phone call would bring their souls together again. There were so many memories of John Lodi that touched our family. I don't know what it was about John but I do know that in his presence we all felt more connected with something inexplainable. He truly was an apostle. A five minute talk with John and you knew he was something special.

I remember about 17 years ago John had visited my father in Florida and I was living in West Palm Beach at the time a young eager corporate puppet who really didn't know any better at the time. My father called and asked if he and John could drive down and visit. I was very excited to see them. They were like two teenage boys on a road trip. goofing around. When they arrived we went to lunch. My Dad had wanted to hear all about my new career. I rambled on about all my responsibility, the meetings, the training and the great opportunity. John sat there and listened in complete peace - he turned to me and said - Don't you get tired of all that acting! It hit me like a ton of bricks - he was so right on. I hated what I was doing pretending to be someone I wasn't. John knew it the minute I began speaking. It was only a few years after that I resigned from my corporate position and went in business for myself. I have to say that one comment stuck with me for quite a while. It was this insight that made John so special. I really don't know that I will ever meet such a deep peaceful man.

Also, I remember back in New York when John bought an old school bus. He took us for a ride and had no idea how to drive such a big vehicle. He was sideswiping telephone poles and the windows were shattering. being so young I was scared to death. My father was having a blast. He was a part of one of John's adventures and that made him so happy.

When my father passed away a few years ago and John was there I could see how a part of John had disappeared. His lifelong friend would not be there for those annual phone calls. I wish I could have taken some of those calls that touched my father in so many ways. I know John would have put a lot in perspective for me. I truly miss my father and John. Their relationship will always be with me.

Please feel free to share this on your site. Hope you and your family are doing well. Life is still good just a little different.

Love to all.

Nick DeRosa

Sunday October 31, 2010

Brenda, Lorenne, Clay, Steve and I went to Dad's grave site at the National Memorial Cemetery in Scottsdale, AZ.

It is a very interesting cemetery, xeriscaped with natural Arizona foliage, no water/energy wasting grass.  Unusual for a northerner, like me.

For those that didn't know, John served in the Army in Europe during World War II.  We were able to utilize his V.A. benefit to pay for the burial he desired.

He wanted to be buried "green".  No embalming and biodegradable casket.  Not something I even new existed, but he did his research and with the help of the V.A. we were able to give him this last wish.

Kathy

From Alexis and JD Morrison

Aloha,  No words can convey how much John touched our lives.  He will always be with us all.   Our deepest sympathy,  Alexis & JD Morrison

(JD sent some great pictures, K.)

My Uncle John

My Uncle John came to visit with my husband & I in our home where we spent a few enjoyable days the end of summer 2009. 

John had come through town & stayed a night or two a couple of other recent times as well.  Our time spent was as always interesting & good.

There are many stories I could tell & share regarding my father's brother & hopefully I'll get around to writing them down & sending them to this site in the coming days or weeks.

  

A little about Uncle John:

  

• Student in a multitude of subjects. 
• Educator with regard to all he learned.
• Passionate musician/saxophone.
• Philosopher, chemist, researcher, charmer, guru, healer, father, husband, brother, son, uncle, cousin, friend....  all fit & define John Lodi.
• Born in the year of the cat, John was a cool cat.
• People were naturally & irresistibly drawn to John. 
• His friends were his friends for life.
• Once there was a connection with John, it remained.
• He was loyal & compassionate with regard to all his loved ones & toward everything he believed in.  

With his abundance of charisma, there will always be a few who are a bit apprehensive.  John was one with many points of view & not all his points of view were without controversy.  Neither were they conventional.

 

John could see around & clearly beyond the expected, the commonly accepted, the norm.  His thought process remained sharp.

 

John had much to offer with regard to the pleasure & enjoyment of his family which also included the sharing of important matters. If his voice was not heard before when he whispered, he will be heard now upon reflection.

 

Is there anyone out there who could have met John, had a bit of dialogue with him & walked away without having their thoughts provoked? 

 

The same could be said of his brother, my father. Interesting, stimulating men they were.

 

It goes without saying, they are & will be missed.

 

Sherry Lodi/Lupo

Johns niece

 

A photo of my Uncle John with his horn taken by my Father Oreste Lodi

 

 

From Murray

My name is Murray Hertz and I doubt that many of John’s family still remember me, but John and I go back to our younger days in Las Vegas in the ‘50s.  John was one year older than me and married to Pat at the time. I remember his daughter, Lorenne who was a child at the time.  He had a small print shop in Las Vegas and he was printing a tiny TV guide for someone who could not pay the printing bill.  John took over the guide in exchange for the past due printing bill and somehow came into contact with me.  He said that if I wanted to take over the guide, he would give it to me, gratis as I would let him be the printer and pay him on a regular basis

I made the deal and the guide was called “TV Log”.  It became successful and we kept our share of the bargain for many years until John decided to leave Las Vegas and move to California.  He continued to print it in California and later in Reno.  He shipped it to me weekly until such time that he decided he no longer wanted to handle it.

John and I spent many hours drinking cheap, but good wine, at his kitchen table in Las Vegas. Together we had a lot of fun trying to solve the problems of the world.  He was one of the brightest and most unusual guys I had ever known.  We always had a great respect for each other.  Later, after I married Diane, she became friends with his then new wife, Allene.  Diane and I would often visit the Lodi’s in both Las Vegas and later in Reno.

I didn’t see much of John after that, but periodically I would hear from him in such places like Reno and Hawaii, etc.  He would show up in Las Vegas once in a while, contact me and we would get together and re-hash the “good ole days” in Las Vegas.  In recent years, I received emails from John bringing me up to date on his thoughts and ideas

Our family’s success with the TV Log, which later became “What’s on in Las Vegas” magazine and eventually grew to be the largest, most successful publication of its kind in the state of Nevada, was directly due to John Lodi’s generous offer to me during those early and difficult times in Las Vegas

For that, Diane, our three daughters and I will always feel indebted to John for helping us get a start on what would eventually become a successful family business.

We will miss him.  There will always be a special place in my heart for John.  He is a permanent part of my fond and loving memories.

MURRAY HERTZ

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Ahoy to the descendants of John Lodi,

I offer my condolences in the passing of your Dad. 

Although we never met, (too many years and too many miles between us), your Dad I are second cousins because we share the same great grand parents.  

During 2009, Dad & I worked on the Lodi update to the book, "The Guarino Family Tree, a Twentieth Century Journey, Palermo to New York."    I have a PDF file that provides additional Guarino & Lodi family information that was gained after the book was published.

I wish you all well,   


Ciao, Capt. Joe Guarino

In Phoenix for Lorenne's Birthday

Brenda and I (Kathy) are in Phoenix this weekend to celebrate Lorenne's 59th birthday on Saturday.  We will sit down, go thru pictures and put together an obituary for the blog.  We have new pictures to post and more stories to tell.

Please if you have any pictures or stories about John, feel free to send them to lodidaughters@gmail.com and we will get them up.

Please become a member of our Blog and you will recieve an email when ever we update or post.