John Louis Tropeano, 79, of Sandy Hook, Conn., passed away peacefully December 7 at Danbury Hospital. He was the loving husband of 50 years to Patricia (Moran) Tropeano before her passing in 2015. He spent his last 48 years as a resident of Sandy Hook. Together they raised three children: Deborah Gannon of New Milford, Conn., (husband Rob); Tricia Campbell of Sherman, Conn., (husband John); and Louis Tropeano of Weehawken, N.J., (husband Sael Prado).

He was very proud of his four grandchildren: Ryan, Connor, Justin, and Alyssa, to whom he will forever be known as “Papa.”

John’s quick wit and easy-going personality made him loved by many, and he will be missed by his sister, Carol Gerken of Juneau, Alaska, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Also holding a special place in his heart, he says good-bye to Julia-Jane (McNulty) Lambert and Katie-Rose (McNulty) Oliver, who he helped his wife babysit for many years.

Born on December of 1942, John was a second generation Italian-Polish American raised in Port Chester, N.Y., by his parents, Louis and Carolyn Tropeano. He graduated from Port Chester High School with friends he remained in contact with through the years. For three decades he was a produce manager for the Food Emporium/A&P Stores.

He enjoyed spending many of his days reading about history, collecting stamps, and working in his various vegetable and flower gardens while also tending to his bees, chickens, and One Eye, a stray cat he took in. He always would mention, “If I can’t get a farm, I will have the farm come to me.”

The family is planning a celebration of life luncheon in the spring/summer.

Memorial donations may be made in his honor to The American Lung Association, lung.org, or The Bee Conservancy, thebeeconservancy.org.