JOHN S BONAVITO

January 15, 1963 - June 16, 2022

We will be celebrating Johnny’s life on July 10, 2022.

If you ride a motorcycle, please meet us at The Merritt Square Mall in the JcPenny parking lot at 12:30 for Johnny’s final ride. We will ride to Kiwanis Island where we will continue to celebrate his life with family and friends. Food, beer & Rosè will be provided – please let the family know if you would like to provide a side dish. The celebration of life will be in the Doyle Carlton pavilion from 1pm-4pm.

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John Scott Bonavito

January 15, 1963 – June 16, 2022

Known to most as “Johnny” passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 16, 2022 in Merritt Island, Florida. He was 59 years old.

Johnny was born on January 15, 1963 in Huntington on Long Island, NY to Albert and Dorothea Bonavito (Dorothea proceeded him in death). He was the second oldest of their 4 children. Pia Kramer(Husband; Andy), Ray Bonavito (children; Jake & Kailey) Peggy Orenczak (Husband; Adam, children; Stephen & Amanda) John relocated to Merritt Island, Florida in 1973 with his parents and siblings.

Johnny was in Merritt Island Highs class of 1981, throughout childhood and schooling on the Island he made many life long friendships that he held dear. Known for his long blond hair, surfing at the pier and his many toys (cars and motorcycles) that he built and raced.

In 1985 he met Kelly Antinarelli at the Cocoa Beach Pier, they married in 1986 and had a daughter Ashley in 1987, and son, Anthony in 1994. They had a very blended family full of memories they all cherish to this day. They divorced in 2001.

Johnny was well known for being extremely intelligent, hard working, strong minded and determined. He started his career in Air Conditioning in the early 80’s eventually working his way up to Vice President of Coastal Mechanical in Melbourne, FL. Johnny had a almost fatal motorcycle accident in August 2004 that caused him to retire early from Coastal as he had broken bones and suffered brain injuries that left him needing physical therapy. If you knew Johnny you knew that wouldn’t stop him. He also got back on a bike.

After a few years of being retired he wanted to get back to work. Him and his then partner, Pat Milikin opened and ran Hop ‘N’ Johns Market in Cocoa Village, FL for a few years. It was known for gourmet food and an extensive craft beer and wine collection. Johnny loved his IPA’s!

Once that journey came to a close he went back to working with his hands. He always said “you hit your head hard enough the things that matter change” he just wanted to work a job that fulfilled him and spend time with loved ones.

Johnny started working for Grumman in Melbourne, FL as an aerospace tech that ended up landing him a full time job with Gulfstream in Savannah, Ga. In 2014 he moved there full time. He loved the time he spent working at Gulfstream. He was extremely proud of that job and made great friends working there.

His Children, Ashley and Anthony spent the last 4 years living with him in Savannah. His entrepreneurial spirit rubbed off on his Daughter and he helped her launch her own Private label wine brand, Boujee Broke Girl. He was their number 1 fan. He was extremely close to both of his children. They were his world.

Johnny’s diagnosis rocked the entire family in December 2021 when he was diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer. He spent the last 6 months of his life with a reunited front as his ex wife and mother of his children, Kelly, moved down to help the family. He was surrounded by family coming to Georgia weekly until he decided to move back to Merritt Island to spend the rest of his life and be closer to family permanently. If you knew Johnny personally you knew him for being kind, generous, funny and the life of the party. The many lives and phases he lived. You knew the things he overcame. People often joked he had “9 lives” and it shocked the community when he passed. In the words of his favorite writer Hunter S. Thompson “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow, what a ride!””And that’s exactly what he did.

We will be celebrating Johnny’s life on July 10, 2022.

If you ride a motorcycle, please meet us at The Merritt Square Mall in the JcPenny parking lot at 12:30 for Johnny’s final ride. We will ride to Kiwanis Island where we will continue to celebrate his life with family and friends. Food, beer & Rosè will be provided – please let the family know if you would like to provide a side dish. The celebration of life will be in the Doyle Carlton pavilion from 1pm-4pm.