John F. Nardacci

Rensselaer- John Fitzgerald Nardacci, 63, passed away peacefully at his home with his loving family by his side on Thursday, February 6th, 2025, after a 19-month battle with Glioblastoma. He was born on April 14th, 1961, in Albany, NY and was the loving son of the late Fred A. Nardacci and Geraldine T. (Nolan) Nardacci. He was predeceased by two sisters, Jacqueline Nardacci and Geraldine (Sissy) O’Connell as well as his in-laws Carmela (Natale) and Joseph C. Vona. John was a lifelong resident of Rensselaer, NY. He was a graduate of Saint Gregory’s School in Loudonville, NY and was a 1979 graduate of LaSalle Institute in Troy, NY. John then enlisted in the United States Navy from 1981-1984, where he was deployed to the USS Waddell, a guided missile destroyer and the USS John A. Moore, a guided missile frigate. He was stationed in San Diego, CA and he served overseas in Asia. After his time in the Navy, John was employed by Time Warner Cable Company and Conrail/CSX. John also worked along side his mother and father in the family owned Nardacci’s Broadway Food Market. He is a former member of the Gerald O’Neil American Legion Post and the Knights of Columbus. John was a lifelong fan of the NY Yankees and enjoyed listening to the games on his radio in the backyard, as well as attending many games at Yankee stadium with his family. In his free time, John loved fishing with his son Anthony and was especially proud to coach Ava’s softball and Anthony’s baseball teams. He cherished summer family vacations and time at the beach in Wildwood, NJ. In addition, John was a real history buff, especially US and Military history. There was no bigger Jeopardy fan than John, and he took immense pleasure in challenging and beating his many family members that watched with him. He loved the holidays, especially Christmas, and he never missed a Christmas Eve without watching It’s A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. 

John was married to Linda Vona, to whom he was married for 29 years. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend. He loved spending time with his family. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. John is survived by his wife Linda, his two children Ava Nicole and Anthony Joseph, as well as his three sisters Kathleen (Josie) Nardacci of East Greenbush, Maureen Nardacci of Rensselaer, and Lisa (Rick) Alteri of Chicago, IL. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Vona and his nieces and nephews Jennifer Nardacci, Thomas (Anne) Nardacci, Thomas O’Connell, Ashley Alteri, Marie Nardacci and Tommy Nardacci, as well as his many cousins and lifelong friends, especially Marty Hardt, Don Foley and Billy Spath. 

The family would like to thank the compassionate care-givers from Community Hospice, Grace, Joe and Laurie. In addition, words cannot express our appreciation for the care, dedication and compassion of John’s oncologist, Dr. Susan Weaver and the infusion team at NYOH. Finally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Rensselaer Fire Department for their kind and loving attention to John over the last several months. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 13th, 2025, at St. John The Evangelist & St. Joseph’s Church, Rensselaer where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, at W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer. 

Contributions may be made in John’s name to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org.