John M. Dalessio

John M. Dalessio passed away on March 31, 2026, at his home overlooking the water, surrounded by his children and their spouses. He was 87 years old. He was not in pain. He did not suffer. And if you knew John, you’d know he wouldn’t have had it any other way — the man lived on his own terms, right up to the end. John was born in Pennsgrove, New Jersey, the son of Angelo and Laura Dalessio, Italian immigrants who came to America with little more than courage and a willingness to work. Somewhere along the way, the apostrophe in D’Alessio was dropped — but the pride never was. He grew up alongside his brothers Silvio and Leonard and his sisters Mary and Virginia, all of whom predeceased him. He started out as a mechanic, got his hands dirty, and learned how things worked from the inside out. He moved on to DuPont Chambers Works, then landed at Jewell Lincoln-Mercury, where he discovered something important about himself: he could sell. Not in the pushy way — in the charming way. The kind of salesman who made you feel like you were the one getting the better deal. It was a gift, and he ran with it. He went on to own Dalessio Ford and a Cadillac dealership, building a name for himself on his own terms. Later, he opened Motorworks, a motorcycle dealership where he personally built custom trikes. He was wicked smart, genuinely funny, and generous in ways his friends never forgot. He was self-made and proud of it. He was brave. He was in command — of his businesses, his boats, and any room he walked into. Speaking of which — John was a marksman. He won the 1970 National Skeet Shooting Association World Championship and was runner-up in 1972. He played tennis. And he loved being on the water. What started as a small boat in Greenwich, New Jersey, eventually took him down the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida and across to Treasure Cay in the Bahamas. When John found something he loved, he didn’t dabble — he went all in. He was predeceased by his daughter Lillian, his brothers Silvio and Leonard, and his sisters Mary and Virginia. He is survived by his daughter Lisa (Tony), his son Eric (Patti), and his daughter Laura (Samer), and by his grandchildren Anna, Samy, Jane, Layla, and Wiliam — all of whom were blessed to have a grandfather who lived so large. At 87, when you’ve been the boss your whole life, done everything you ever wanted, built it all yourself, and lived as big as John did — it’s not a tragedy for the body to finally wear out. It’s a life completed. And what a life it was. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Visitation on Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 11am to 12noon in The Chapel at BOUCHER FUNERAL HOME, 1757 Delsea Drive, Deptford, NJ 08096. Entombment Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Divided Sky Foundation. For condolences, please visit www.boucherfuneralhome.com.

John M. Dalessio

November 16, 1938 - March 31, 2026