John William Auriemma

John William Auriemma Jr. died peacefully on October 12, 2023, a beautiful fall day, with his loving children by his bedside.

John was born in Haverhill, MA, to John William Auriemma, Sr. and Mary Catherine (Hamilton) Auriemma. He attended public schools in Haverhill and graduated from Salem State University in 1970 with a BA in English. He then received a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Salem State University in 1971. After completing his M.Ed., John worked for thirty years at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission as a vocational counselor and then as a unit supervisor until his retirement. MRC is also where he met his wife, Lucy, who was employed there too. They went on to marry in 1973 and were proud to raise their family in Georgetown.

Anyone who knew John knew he did life on his own terms until his last breath. More than anything, he enjoyed heading to Nahant Beach with a book in hand and working on his famous (and sometimes year-round) tan. John also enjoyed day and weekend trips to North Conway, Rockport, Newburyport, Ogunquit, and York, ME. He was an avid runner who ran various marathons and races, including the Boston Marathon, the Mount Washington Road Race, and the local Yankee Homecoming Race every summer. He also enjoyed gardening and took pride in his stunning flower gardens at his homes in Georgetown and Saugus. Lastly, true to his Italian roots, John loved a bowl of spaghetti or ravioli with marinara sauce, lobster fra diavlo, and a Manhattan cocktail (or two) to wash it down. On an off day, when he wasn't in the mood for Italian food, he would call up one of his kids and hint that he was craving a bake-stuffed lobster from Hawthorne By The Sea or fried clams from The Tides Restaurant. John was also a huge fan of Old Hollywood films (especially any movie with his all-time favorite actress, Elizabeth Taylor), old-school music from the '50s, '60s, and '70s, such as The Supremes and Fleetwood Mac, reading any biography or history book that he could get his hands on, and watching every JFK documentary imaginable. As only a true Bostonian would, he knew every bit of trivia there was to know about the Kennedy family. On one final note, he might have played coy, but he secretly loved when people compared him to George Hamilton and a Godfather-era Al Pacino.

John leaves behind his daughter Alyssa and partner Thomas of Newburyport and son Christopher of Saugus. He also leaves behind several cousins, his beloved Siamese cat, Mr. Gink, and his granddogs, Bowie, Beefy, and Demon. John was pre-deceased by his wife Lucille (Camuso) Auriemma, his favorite aunt Josephine DiBurro, his dear friends Joseph Landry and Richard LeBel, several aunts and uncles, and his parents John and Mary. As a true animal lover, he will forever hold his dear pets Heidi, Benny, Benji, Gink (the first), Honey, Tommy, and Holly close to his heart.

At the request of John's family, all services will be held privately.  As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the American Lung Association or Northeast Animal Shelter.

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