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Condolences:
Margo Story
Rita, my sincere condolences to you & your family......mau the perpetual light shine on John.
Deb DeLong
Rita, Girls and families - I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I have known John many years, personally and professionally. He was the consummate professional. He adored his family. He will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace John.
clark justice
The riggers of Trident Refit Facility Kings Bay Ga. (retired and active) would like to send our prayers out to Rita and the entire family. I know his grandchildren will surely miss their granddad ,I pray for them at this time. May the Lord bless and keep you all. John will surely be missed by many. d our love and prayers
Susan Griffis
Meet John and the family through Girl Scouts. Great person to be around. Loved his family. He will be missed by many. Prayers for the family.
PNSY 72R
On behalf of the PNSY Riggers , our deepest condolences to Rita , daughters and family , May John be at peace , until next muster , our friend and brother. It was a pleasure and our privilege to have known and worked with you , brother
Jerry Murphy
Remember John very well. A great friend and fellow rigger. Many great times working on many ships and playing softball as well. My condolences to Rita and the girls. Rest in peace my fellow yardbird and friend.
Joseph Ricciardi
I believe John played softball with a team I coached. I’m older so my memory can be flawed. But he was introduced and was a great player, as well as a great guy. RIP friend…
John Masciarelli
Dear Rita & Daughters, So very sorry to hear about John’s passing,Lao sorry that he had to suffer so much.It’s a long time but I will always have such great memories of him.
Tom (Rocky) DeMarco
Condolences to the family , worked with John as a brother Rigger at PNSY , Rest Easy fellow Yardbird
John Anthony Coia, Jr.
2023-08-24
John Anthony Coia, Jr, 66, of Fernandina Beach, FL passed away on August 24, 2023.
Born on November 9, 1956 in Camden, New Jersey to John and Pauline Coia. He spent most of his younger years in Pennsauken, NJ where he graduated in 1975. He met his wife Rita that same year and they were married on November 5, 1977 where they continued to live in South Jersey and welcome their 3 daughters’, Angela, Kellyann and Colleen. He started his career at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard before transferring to Kings Bay Naval Station in 1991 and called Fernandina Beach, FL home until his passing. He spent many years with shop 72 at the Trident Refit Facility as a Rigger Supervisor and was affectionately known as “Big John” to the guys.
During the early years in Fernandina Beach, you would most likely find John coaching his daughters’ softball teams or fishing at Fort Clinch. He loved nothing more than being around his family and was always putting them first. Later you would often find him at his grandchildren’s sporting events, Disney with his family or spending time traveling with his wife.
He leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Rita Coia and his 3 daughters, Angela Lipscomb (Keith) of Winter Park, FL, Kellyann Sherman (Curt) and Colleen Bellar (Matt) both of Fernandina Beach, FL and his 6 grandchildren, Amelia and Colin Lipscomb, Landyn and Hayden Sherman and Brynnlee and Declan Bellar. Other survivors include his mother, Pauline Coia and sisters, brother and sister-in-law, Denise Manall (John), Louise Cameron (Dave), Marie Cori (Chris), Tony Coia (Stephanie), Gerri Coia and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father John Coia Sr. and brother Dominick Coia.
The family will receive friends and family at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 1, 2023 with a service following at 11:00 AM in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors.
He will be laid to rest at Bosque Bello Cemetery.
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