John was  my mom's partner at the Brooklyn DA's office where they both served honorably as undercover Detectives until retirement. He became a friend to the entire family and he and my father got along well. John was chosen as my Godfather when I was baptized and I looked forward to his visits when I was young. Later after my dad, Vincent Dante, passed away at only 51 years, following his own battle with cancer, John became a strong support for my mother and they later married. John adopted me, my sister (Rosalinda)and my brother (Philip), thus becoming our second father. His nickname was "the Boss" (but we all knew the real boss was my mom). John was softhearted when it came to his children. He was known to just hand us money to help us out or so we could get a treat. He was always generous and fair.   John later became a proud Grandpa of my daughter, Nicolina, and then my sister gave him 2 more grand-kids- Vincent and Bianca. He was a lover of dogs (especially German Shepherds) and of children and he enjoyed being a grandfather. John was a big holiday man and he enjoyed bringing up food from Brooklyn and the Bronx to help add to the holiday fare. He brought us amazing cheesecake and pastries and yummy fresh baked Italian bread as well as great  Italian dishes from specialty shops. He enjoyed sitting around a big table of food and enjoying the holidays with family.   In his last days, John did not eat very much. I fed him his last meal(yogurt) on the day before he left us when  he could no longer swallow easily. Never once did I hear him complain about his physical infirmities. On his last day of consciousness, I told him how tough he was and said, "You had one of the most stressful jobs in the world. " He smiled and said " I loved every minute of it. I wouldn't have given it up for the world." Everyone who knew John, knew he was a man of service and commitment to his job- he truly enjoyed serving his community and being part of the NYPD. He was a man defined by the word "grit"  and he showed this even when in hospice care at  Calvary Hospital. He was kind and considerate of the nursing staff and never complained about his discomfort. He wanted to get strong and go home, but his body was not as strong as his will. As my sister Ro said, John would be  a warrior to the end and "die with his boots on." She was exactly right.   John will live on in our hearts and we will remember fondly his unique style of Brooklyn humor and his banter with my mom, his warmth hidden beneath his tough exterior, and his deep love for all of us.   Posted by Paula Michele Vincenza Dante