Name: Frank Patti & Kenneth Mikatarian Funeral Home
Address: 327 Main Street, Fort Lee, New Jersey, 07024, United States
Telephone: (201) 944-0100

Frank Patti: frankpatti@frankpatti.com | Frank Patti ii: fpatti@frankpatti.com

327 Main Street | Fort Lee, NJ | 07024

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In Memory of

John G. Malangone

1932 - 2021

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Monday

May

Visitation at Funeral Home

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Monday, May 24, 2021

Frank A. Patti & Kenneth Mikatarian Funeral Home

327 Main Street

Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States

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Tuesday

May

Mass

10:00 am

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

St. Margaret Of Cortona Parish

31 Chamberlain Avenue

Little Ferry, New Jersey, United States

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Tuesday

May

Final Resting Place

11:30 am

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Garden of Memories

Soldier Hill Raod

Washington Twp., New Jersey, United States

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Hal Stein uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

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Tom Pirecki uploaded photo(s)

Monday, July 18, 2022

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John was so nice and had the chance to play with him in the over 40 league. We got to play at Yankee Stadium in our All Star game. Tom Pirecki

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Ray Caronia posted a symbolic gesture

Sunday, November 21, 2021

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It was a pleasure to work at sear with John for 10 years. A famly man,a listener, and the biggest heart. When it came to sports the talking stopped John Malangone spoke every one listen to fantastic store of his wonder life. It was encourghing for us young one. Thank you John for all your advise and teaching us a teriffic direction. Ray Caronia

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Gm uploaded photo(s)

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

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GMalangone uploaded photo(s)

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

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Ray Smith posted a condolence

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Wow!! Just weeing this today. I first encountered John at the Coach House Restaurant located on route 4 in Hackensack maybe 5 or 6 years ago, and I immediately recognized him by the distinctive Yankee cap he was wearing. A short while before this chance meeting, there was an article about him in the The Record newspaper wearing that same Yankee cap that told some of his story. After I introduced myself and told him about the article I read about him, we talked baseball and then I realized that I played baseball against him while playing a Bronx adult summer league way back in late 60's and early 70's, not knowing him or his background. He played for a team ironically called the Yankees. We reminisced about some of the players we both knew and played against, some of whom became major leaguers, like Ken Singleton. We talked a long time and we agreed to meet again at a restaurant near his home in Little Ferry which we did. He told me that his wife regularly attended Mass at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Teaneck of which my wife and I have been members for over 50 years. John was pleasantly surprised that I had already purchased his book Penance and Pinstripes on Amazon. He told me about the a baseball league in Passaic that he was still active in and asked if I wanted to play, which I politely turned down (too old and broken down, early 70's at that time). At our meeting, I brought along some photos of a few trophies from championship wins with teams called the Bombers and Redwings and also I gave him a VHS copy of a non speaking baseball beer commercial I made back in 1973 for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. I was playing baseball in a summer league in New Jersey by then. He mentioned most if not all, of his health problems and told me that he worked for many years as an auto mechanic and worked for Sears for many years. He gave me a copy of a DVD of his story. I must say, it was a real pleasure meeting John and discussing something he loved, baseball. John, rest in eternal peace in baseball heaven. Ray Smith. 8/11/2021.

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Ron Clemente posted a condolence

Sunday, July 11, 2021

I had the pleasure of playing with John in a league of our own, over 40 baseball. He was a great inspiration and a wonderful man. He will be missed. RIP my friend. Ron Clemente

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Ron Weiss posted a condolence

Sunday, June 27, 2021

He was a good friend and teammate. I will miss him.

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G.Malangone uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

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The family of John G. Malangone uploaded photo(s)

Monday, May 24, 2021

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Randy Cain uploaded photo(s)

Sunday, May 23, 2021

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Like thousands of others, I first encountered John thru Gary Smith's story in Sports Illustrated. But it really touched me deeply. I read it when it came out in 1997, and then kept it on my nightstand at my home in Kansas City for years. When I was down or sad about something, I often took it out and re-read it....and it never failed to move or inspire me. Then, about 10 years later, my copy of SI arrived, and the cover story was written by Gary Smith. I was scheduled to go to New York that weekend to play golf with a friend, and on a lark I sent an email to SI that evening, to Gary Smith's attention. I asked if John were still alive, and whether he had any contact info he'd be willing to share as I would love to meet him. I didn't really expect much to come from it, if anything. To my everlasting astonishment, Gary called me personally the very next morning! He said that my timing was unbelievable, because a documentary film had been made about John's life, that it was premiering that Thursday at CBS, and that if I could get there John would love to have me come as his guest! Of course I did, and John and his family were even kind enough to include me at dinner after the event. I saw John 2-3 more times over the years, and often spoke with him by phone. I've always thought that John's story was, except for maybe "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Shawshank Redemption", the most touching, moving, and inspirational story I knew...and it happened to be true! I’m baffled that John's story was never made into a full-length movie, as it always seemed to me the ultimate expression of the power and magic of Hope....Hope that even the deepest pain can heal, Hope of coming to live without being consumed and defined by shadows, by demons, by self-loathing, by doubt. When you have a really painful childhood it's hard to have any faith....in yourself, in life, in anything. It can feel like you could cry for a thousand years and it still wouldn’t be enough. But John's story illustrates that hope is never completely gone, even when it feels like it is. It can always appear, and can always change our lives and ease our suffering, even if the pain and darkness seem bottomless and has lasted for decades. As Andy Dufresne says in "Shawshank " in his note to Red: Remember, Red, hope is a good thing...maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies. I don't think John ever fully shed his burdens and demon...they were too ingrained, and the power of grief that goes that deep can be relentless. But he was still a joy to be around, with a passion for life and people that never dimmed. I just finished a book ("The Wake-Up”, by Catherine Ryan Hyde) in which the main character, Aiden, encounters the badly abused son of his new girlfriend, So deeply has the boy been damaged by his own father that he was almost non-verbal, was cruel to animals, etc. One day, on a lark, Aiden buys several brightly colored pots at a second-hand store. He then invites the boy to smash them all, which the boy does with savage joy. Aiden then gathers all the broken pieces into a box, and presents them to the boy. The boy, of course, asks what it’s for, and Aiden tells him he could put them all together into a mosaic. After some initial reluctance, the boy does just that, and several weeks later completed what was a stunning work of art with a colorful sky full of suns, set against a sky background of green and blue, like the surface of a sea shifting in tone and picking up highlights. Later that night, the boy's mother says to Aiden, "He won't really understand this for years, probably. Maybe you don't even realize it yourself. But what you've done is show him that even something that's been completely broken into pieces can still be made into something beautiful." I think John was a living, breathing tribute to that sentiment. I will never forget him. Randall Cain Kansas City, Mo.

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Diane Bocian Brueske posted a condolence

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Mary, Rosemary and all of John's family members. I offer my deepest condolences on the loss of John. I hope God brings you peace that surpasses all understanding. May God bless you and your family. Diane Brueske

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The family of John G. Malangone uploaded a photo

Saturday, May 22, 2021

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The family of John G. Malangone uploaded a photo

Saturday, May 22, 2021

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Will posted a condolence

Friday, May 21, 2021

Rosemary, Mary, Christina, Gregory and Elizabeth So sorry about John. I have so many great memories and will always remember his stories. Deepest Condolences Willy

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Contact Us

(201) 944-0100

Frank Patti: frankpatti@frankpatti.com
Frank Patti ii: fpatti@frankpatti.com

327 Main Street
Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Frank Patti
Senior Director - N.J. License No. 2693

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Frank Patti: frankpatti@frankpatti.com | Frank Patti ii: fpatti@frankpatti.com

327 Main Street | Fort Lee, NJ | 07024

John G. Malangone

1932 - 2021

Visitation at Funeral Home

Mass

Final Resting Place

PROUD RECIPIENTS OF THE NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION "BEST OF THE BEST" AWARD

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Frank Patti: frankpatti@frankpatti.com
Frank Patti ii: fpatti@frankpatti.com

327 Main Street
Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Frank Patti
Senior Director - N.J. License No. 2693

Frank Patti: frankpatti@frankpatti.com | Frank Patti ii: fpatti@frankpatti.com

John G. Malangone

1932 - 2021

Visitation at Funeral Home

Mass

Final Resting Place

PROUD RECIPIENTS OF THE NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION "BEST OF THE BEST" AWARD

​Explore

Contact Us

Frank Patti: frankpatti@frankpatti.comFrank Patti ii: fpatti@frankpatti.com

Frank Patti​Senior Director - N.J. License No. 2693

Explore

Frank Patti: frankpatti@frankpatti.com
Frank Patti ii: fpatti@frankpatti.com

Frank Patti
Senior Director - N.J. License No. 2693