John was one of the few people in this world who knew what he wanted - out of every aspect of his life. He had a firm understanding of his identity. He was incredibly decisive. He never backed down and wasn't easily swayed. He just knew. He was steadfast - with work, with life, with those he loved. This is a trait we have always appreciated in him. In a time of people constantly claiming we should be our authentic self, he was always that. Authentically John. You always knew where you stood with him. He never held back. It is this firm knowledge of oneself that made him so confident and charming. It is what made his bits of humor and quirks so endearing. Did this tall, broad-shouldered, man with a serious look on his face just crack a joke? Is he really dancing the Twist in the middle of his workplace? Do we hear him singing a Journey or James Taylor song? Did he just stop to pet a small, cute animal? Yes. He did. Because no one else's opinion mattered. John was just being John. He loved being the life of a party. He loved talking to people, which is why he was such a good salesman. He was never about the job, but more about getting to know someone. It was all about relationships. Be it a meeting, party, or moment of introduction, John would greet you with a million-dollar smile and a firm handshake. And from that moment on, there was laser focus on you during the whole conversation. It was like the world melted away and only this discussion mattered. He really had a way of creating a connection from the get-go. He told me once that the secret to networking was a smile, a firm handshake, and presence. He told me that people want to feel important. They want to be heard, and most importantly, deserve to be heard. That is the secret to establishing connections with people. This was his superpower. The spark of connection. The beginning of new relationships. And John was fierce in his love for the people he loved. And you knew he loved you. He was a brother and a father figure to so many people. It was those people he loved that mattered most to him. He last words to us was just that - that he loved us. In the end, John knew what he wanted. He wanted those who he loved for them to know it. It is that love we pass along to you. In John's name, go forth, and love. John Edward Zona II was born on a snowy day in Rochester, New York on November 30, 1956. He left our world on September 26, 2023 to be with his mother, Lucy Mercury Zona, father John Edward Zona, stepfather John Walkowiak, sisters Christine and Ellen, and adopted daughter Jessica. John is survived by his loving wife, Wendy Zona, daughters Candess Zona Mendola and Tabatha Paine, grandchildren Sabrina and Jonathan Mendola, and four well-loved and well-fed pugs - Ricky, Emily, Bailey, and Bear. A Celebration of Life for John will be held at a later time.