On November 17, 2017, the eve of his 50th wedding anniversary, John Joseph Cagianello of Coventry passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family, to a new life and an eternity with God, after a 4-year competition with metastatic bladder cancer. A true warrior, John, with the support of his loving wife Jean, faced his diagnosis with bravery, courage and resolute strength. He was a true champion and valiant player in the world of science. Through his participation in cutting edge, successful clinical trials, he enabled progress and discoveries in the medical field. Born in Hartford, Connecticut on December 23, 1939 to Francesca Piangenti and Salvatore Cagianello, John was a proud graduate of Hartford Public High School Class of 1957 and most recently attended his 60th class reunion. During his youth John delivered The Hartford Courant and The Hartford Times to 75 customers daily. On weekends he could be found on Main Street shining shoes at 10 cents a shine. He did not go home until he reached his goal of earning $5.00. John graduated from the University of Connecticut where he was a member of Scabbard and Blade Military Honor Society. He earned a Master's Degree from Central Connecticut State University and a Sixth-Year Professional Certificate from UConn. John served as a Captain in the United States Army in Germany under Colonel Dale J. Crittenberger in HQ Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Division. He was employed by the State of CT Tax Dept. and CT School for Boys. John was a humble, compassionate and dedicated man and loved his work with children and youth with challenges. He was always rooting for the underdog and received great satisfaction from his years as a special education teacher and Work Experience Coordinator for the Vernon Bd. of Ed. Upon retirement, John and his wife Jean spent 12 years caring for their grandchildren. Together they visited countless landmarks in Connecticut and beyond. December would have marked their annual attendance at Hartford Stage performance of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, a tradition that began 13 years ago. To honor their grandfather, they sang Christmas carols at his bedside to begin this season of giving thanks and remembering all the joy they shared. During his years in the Army, John traveled throughout Europe. He was privileged to view Leonardo's Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. With his young family, he traveled to Canada and across the United States. Together John and Jean traveled to Greece, Turkey, Italy, Mexico and several Caribbean Islands. In 2013, John and his daughter Terese traveled to Ariano Irpino, Italy to celebrate her Italian citizenship and to visit the birthplace of his grandfather, Giovanni Caggianiello, and view family birth records. For over 30 years John was a member of Southern Poverty Law Center, SPLC, an organization to fight suppression, racial injustice, hate and bigotry in our country. He was also a member of the Manchester Chapter of UNICO, an Italian fundraising organization. For many years John served on the Coventry Board of Tax Review. During his lifetime, John enjoyed reading, history, the coast of Maine, light gardening and yard work, including the stone walkway he built, cooking, jazz, live concerts with Tony Bennett and Andrea Bocelli, Friday night lobster, and playing in his pool with his grandchildren. He planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs in the woods behind his home, one dozen for each year of his grandchildren's lives. He also enjoyed East Catholic basketball and wishes his grandson, coach and team a successful season. Go Eagles! To his granddaughters and their coach/father he sends all good wishes for a great season together. Surviving are his beloved and devoted wife, Jean O'Donnell. They would have celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage on November 18, 2017. She is eternally grateful for each of those days. He also leaves his two daughters of whom he was extremely proud and loved deeply: Terese Cagianello and Corine Cagianello-Jones (Christopher Jones), his three grandchildren who were 'more important to him than that of his own life', Christopher, Isabella and Sophia Jones, his brother Nicholas (Patricia) of Florida, and Tom O'Donnell. He also leaves his lifelong friend, John Boccaccio. John had a special bond with his sister-in-law and 'Coach', Francine O'Donnell (Gregory Wilfert) of Portland, Maine. There are no calling hours. Funeral services with military honors will be private. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Connecticut, on a hill under the shade of a hickory tree overlooking the city of his birth and completing his circle of life. His father Salvatore's ashes will be interred with John. As John was leaving his home for the last time, a never-before-seen flock of hundreds of white birds flew high in the sky above him. In John's memory, donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104 or the Marginal Way Preservation Fund, P.O. Box 1455, Ogunquit, Maine 03907. Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, Wethersfield, Connecticut is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.dillonbaxter.com to share a memory with John's family.