Marlborough – John Donald Viggiano, age 82, of Marlborough, MA, formerly of Shelton, CT entered into rest on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at UMASS Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA.
John was born June 16, 1939, the eldest child of four to Donald Viggiano and Josephine (Verni) Viggiano in Shelton, Connecticut. John Donald Viggiano was a longtime Massachusetts resident currently of Marlborough. John entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Worcester, Massachusetts. While growing up John received his religious training in the family church, St. Margaret Mary in Shelton John attended Shelton High School and graduated in 1957. While attending Shelton High, he was in various activities: Class Officer three years, Student Council member two years, Model Club one year, Baseball Manager one year, Dance Committee, two years, Spanish Club three years and lastly Football Team as Co-Captain for four years. It was written in John’s yearbook the following: “By constant dripping water hollows away stone.” (In essence there wasn’t anything that John did, that he was not going to succeed at in the future.
John embraced his Italian heritage and was a member of Watertown Sons of Italy, Lodge Piave Fiume #1036 in Massachusetts. He was awarded the First Eagle Scout Honor by Mayor Malachi J. LeMay of Shelton on Friday evening May 28, 1954. He was extremely proud to earn his Eagle Scout Medal with Troop 3, Derby and he was devoted to Troop 3. He was also a member of Massachusetts Senior Center where he would work out every week. He was also a volunteer at the Boy’s and Girl Club in Marlborough, Massachusetts for many years.
John was a veteran of United States Army National Guard from June 1957 to June 1960. Upon completion of his service duties, John began his college education at the Connecticut School of Electronics.
John married Mary Lou (Tilki) Karas and to this union two sons were born: David and Ronald Viggiano. He would later meet his present wife, Vivian (Henderson) Viggiano and acquire two more children, Robert, and Renita Lancaster. Thus began their journey of a blended and loving family.
John began his professional career with Perkin Elmer, in Norwalk, Connecticut and relocated to California in 1975 where he managed the optics facility for the instrument division of that company.
John’s career would span to include many companies that he was employed with and his positions he held for those companies. John was a sought-after employee where his expertise was always in demand. The following companies and positions that John held are as follows: (He was President of Herron Design Optics in Long Beach, CA. After Herron Design Optics, he was General Manager in the optics division of Bausch and Lomb; Deputy General Manager for Applied Optics Division of Perkin Elmer in Garden Grove, California where he managed the development and integration of the infra-red search and track (IRST) optical head for the F-14D Navy Tomcat fighter aircraft. John also worked on the Hubble Telescope and several Strategic Defense Initiative programs.
Prior to joining his last position that he held at Cierra Photonics; John would become a leading Consultant for Corning, and several startup companies in the optical industry. John led the effort to change the product mix and profitability for Optical Corporation of America (OCA) in Marlborough, Massachusetts. And continued in the position of Executive Vice President until 1998 when he left the company. While at OCA, John was one of the industry pioneers in promoting the viability of thin filter based dense wavelength division multiplexers (DWDM) for fiber optic communications.
John’s last professional position that he would hold would be Corporate Marketing Vice President for Cierra Photonics Inc. Santa Rosa, California from 2000-2002.
John would leave the hectic corporate world and retire to beautiful Marlborough, Massachusetts and in doing so began attending St. Matthias Parish where he and Vivian would live the life of relaxation.
John was predeceased by his parents: Donald and Josephine Viggiano, brother: Donald Viggiano. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 40 years, Vivian Viggiano, his sister: Sandra White, his brother: Albert Viggiano, and sons: Ronald (Lisa Marie Viggiano ); David ( Nicki Viggiano ); Stepson: Robert Lancaster, and Stepdaughter: Renita Lancaster. Grandchildren: Christopher, Olivia, Christian Viggiano, Step Grandchildren: Katrina Lancaster, Vinita Lancaster, Janay Johnson, Step-Great-Granddaughter: Ny’Anyi Clarke and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Thank you to everyone that showed us any expression of love as we began this period of bereavement for John. We know that he is no longer in pain, but in the presence of God and he is now healed and whole. We say “Thank You” to those who sent cards, called, flowers, or whatever you may have done. We appreciate your love and pray that God will return your kindness back to you.
On Monday, friends may greet the family from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm at the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Rd., Shelton. His funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 12:30 PM for his Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret Mary Church at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Margaret Mary Church, 50 Donovan Lane, Shelton, Connecticut 06484.
Friends may leave condolences at www.riverviewfh.com.
