John B. Lamendola

John B. Lamendola, age 95, of Riverhead, New York, husband of the late Hazel (Pat) Lamendola, passed away on November 26, 2017. Born in Lower Burrell, PA on November 15, 1922, he was the son of the late Salvatore (Sam) and Vincenza (Virginia) Costanza Lamendola.
John graduated with a degree in Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His music would take him to Charleston, SC where he met his future wife, Hazel. They were married in 1944 and remained together for 64 years until her death in 2008.
A World War II veteran, he served his country in the United States Army. An accomplished bass player, John was a part of the Big Band Era. He traveled with the Glenn Miller and Count Basie Orchestras, and was a member of The Talk of the Towners Band.
John moved his family from Pennsylvania to Riverhead, N.Y. in 1960. He was the Director of Music at Hampton Bays High School where he conducted the orchestra, stage, and jazz bands. A music scholarship is awarded yearly in his name. He also was the proprietor of Lamendola’s Music Shoppe in Riverhead.
John was predeceased by his siblings James, Joseph, Anthony, Virginia (Tillie), Charles, Michael, Marie, and Robert. He is survived by his brother, Sam Lamendola. He is also survived by his six children, John Lamendola of Riverhead, Jerry Lamendola (Debbie) of Lake Ronkonkoma, Joanne Sanders (John) of Riverhead, Jamie Wagner of Syracuse, NY, Jennifer Covello of Norwalk, CT and Jeannie Demarest (Lance) of Westhampton Beach, NY. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, John Lamendola, Joseph Elegado (Stacey), John Sanders (Stacy), Erica Sanders, Christopher Covello, Kaitlyn Covello, and Haley Demarest; three great-grandchildren, Stellan Sanders-Dannaker, Lauren Sanders, and Summer Sanders as well as many nieces and nephews.
A wake will be held on November 29, 2017 at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home on 406 E. Main St. in Riverhead, NY. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on November 30, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Isidore’s Church on Pulaski St. in Riverhead, NY. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.