When John Antoniello proposed to his wife, he did not get down on one knee. That’s because he popped the question on a ski lift. It was a fitting place to do it, as he and his wife bonded over skiing when they first met at a party in 1969.
Mr. Antoniello, a teacher and prominent Staten Island republican, died on October 6. He was 82 years old. The cause of death was complications of diabetes.
Mr. Antoniello was born and raised in Brooklyn, in the Sunset Park neighborhood. He was the only child of Josephine, a homemaker, and Thomas, a banker. They had both emigrated to Brooklyn from Italy.
Debbie and John Antoniello (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti) Staff-Shot
As a boy, he loved to climb trees and swim. He attended St. Agatha’s Catholic School and Delehanty High School. “It was actually a school for boys who couldn’t get along in other schools,” said his wife, Deborah Antoniello. “He was getting in trouble in junior high, and his father sent him there.”
At 18, Mr. Antoniello joined the Navy Reserves. He graduated from St. John’s University in Queens and obtained a master’s degree in education from Wagner College.
Then-Assemblyman Ron Castorina Jr. takes time during his victory speech at Prive Restaurant to thank John Antoniello. September 13, 2016 (Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores) Staff-Shot
He embarked on a 37-year long career as a teacher at I.S. 51 in Westerleigh. He taught history, science, and computer arts. “When the computers started to come into the schools, he was the first person to volunteer to teach the kids how to use computers,” Deborah said.
He ran the honor society, was in charge of the ski club, and trained students in the color guard.
“He loved his students and they loved him,” Deborah said.
John Antoniellofamily archive
“He wanted to serve his community,” said his son, Scott Antoniello. “He was always a community driven kind of person, and he loved teaching and making sure that the next generation of kids are going to grow up to be solid adults. That was his big thing. He loved to be able to teach the younger children and give them a solid foundation.”
“He just knew how to explain things that one of his favorite things to say was, ‘does that make sense to you?’ He always wanted to make sure it made sense and that he was saying it in a way that made it relatable to who he was teaching,” Scott said.
After retiring from I.S. 51, he became a parent-teacher liaison at I.S. 34 in Tottenville.
John Antoniello, as Community Board chairman, questions why the South Shore was blacked out following the return of power to other Island areas at a press conference in 2003 outside Con Ed headquarters on Davis Avenue. In the back are Andrew Lanza, Vito Fossella, and James Oddo.staten island advance
Mr. Antoniello served on Staten Island Community Board 3, eventually becoming chairman. “He joined the community board to help make a better Staten Island,” Deborah said.
He was very active in the Republican Party, serving as the chair of the Staten Island GOP from 2013 to 2017.
Then-Repubican Vice Chairman Bill D’Ambrosio and Chairman John Antoniello in 2013. (Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores) Staten Island Advance
What issues was he passionate about? “He cared about better government,” Deborah said.
“He brought so many people into the into Republican fold,” Scott said. “He was always there for them, collecting names on petitions and campaigning for whoever was running at the time. He was always out there working for the party. He literally lived for Staten Island . . .”
“He was selected to be a delegate to the Trump convention in Cleveland for the first election of Donald Trump. When he won the nomination, my husband went crazy,” Deborah said.
“He was a Trumper all the way,” she said.
“He loved President Trump,” Scott said. “Donald Trump was one of his heroes since before I can remember, long before he was ever president. He knew him personally, met him several times, and then met him again several times on the campaign trail before he became president.”
John Antoniellofamily archive
Mr. Antoniello moved to Zephyrhills, Florida in 2022, to be near his grandchildren.
In his free time, he loved to garden. He planted tomatoes and figs. He loved cars and rooted for the Yankees and the Giants. He travelled extensively, visiting Europe every summer.
Vjollca Cejovic, left, John Antoniello, Nicole Malliotakis, Manhal Hussain and manager Amanda Terkizzi of Bagels R Us giving out a blue bagels with cream cheese to show support of cops in the wake of the murder of PO Miosotis Familia. July 8, 2017 (Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores) Staff-Shot
“He was an exemplary father,” Deborah said. “He stood behind his children at every occasion. He supported them. He pushed them forward.”
“He was the best dad,” Scott said. “He always was there for me if I needed him. He was never the type of person who would let you down.”
Mr. Antoniello is survived by his wife, Deborah, his sons, John and Scott, and two grandchildren.
John Antoniello
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.