John DeSimone, resident of West Hartford and owner of Modern Tire, passed away on Jan. 12, 2018.

Submitted by Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home

John DeSimone, of West Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully on Jan. 12, 2018, at age 73. He was born in Hartford on Oct. 10, 1944, to John and Rosa DeSimone. He was the beloved husband of Suzanna.

The longtime owner of Modern Tire of West Hartford and a pillar of the community, John was the fifth child of Italian immigrants. After graduating from Hartford High School, he attended Point Park College in Pittsburg, PA.

Soon after, John came back to the Hartford area where he would settle down, begin a career and start a family. A self-made, hardworking man, John always had a love for cars. He started working as an auto mechanic and eventually purchased Modern Tire in 1981.

John was a humble, kind and generous man, a devoted husband, father and grandfather as well as a dedicated parishioner of St. Peter Claver Church. He was a board member of the Bridge Family Center, a long time member of both West Hartford Rotary and Unico National in Wethersfield.

In addition to his adoring wife Suzanna, who he would have celebrated 50 years with this May, John is survived by his three children, Denise DeSimone of Avon, Jonathan DeSimone and his wife Rebecca of Princeton, NJ, and Brendon DeSimone and his partner Richard Flood of Greenwich, CT. He is also survived by his two cherished grandchildren Emily and Ryan. He is predeceased by his siblings, Liberata Grippo, Rocco DeSimone, Christina DiLoreto, and Anthony DeSimone. He will be missed by all.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Saint Peter Claver 47 Pleasant St. West Hartford. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, from 4-8 p.m. at the Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home 136 South Main St., West Hartford.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bridge Family Center, 1022 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT 06107. For online condolences, please visit http://www.taylorandmodeenconnecticut.com/.