John R. "Jack" Antonucci

John R. "Jack" Antonucci John R. (Jack) Antonucci passed away Monday, May 1st at his residence in Canfield. Jack was born July 28, 1920; a son of Marion and Concetta (Roberts) Antonucci. He attended Harding and Hayes Grade Schools and graduated in 1939 from The Rayen School, where he excelled in football, basketball and tennis. He was awarded a "Five R Medal" for earning five varsity sports letters and represented The Rayen School in 1938 as a member of the Youngstown All City football team. Jack earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Accounting from The Ohio State University in March of 1943. In 1943 he was called to service by the United States Army where he served under George Patton with the 16th Armored Division. While in the Army he met the Russians in Pilsen, served in Heidelberg, Germany for a year as a Tours Officer, and traveled in the European Theatre extricating German prisoners. Jack was awarded a Battle Star for his efforts in Europe before he was discharged as a First Lieutenant in August of 1946. In 1946 Jack went to work for his father at Superior Beverage Company on Rayen Avenue in downtown Youngstown where he assumed the position of Sales Manager and Secretary of the Corporation. Upon the passing of his father in 1956, Jack became President of the Company. The company prospered under Jack's leadership from the late 1940's until his retirement in 1985. He was awarded Time Magazine's "Distinguished Beverage Wholesaler Award" in 1984. Jack was a past President of the Wholesale Beer and Wine Association of Ohio and served on the Board of Directors of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America. He most recently served as Chairman Emeritus of Superior Beverage Group and spent most of his retirement living in Florida. In the mid 1940's Jack and his father, Marion, were successful in relocating some of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from Rome, Italy to start an order in Youngstown. Jack's Aunt, Sister Chiarina Antonucci, was one of the Oblate Sisters who came from Italy and later went on to serve as their Mother Superior. They purchased the old Strouss estate in the early 1950's to serve as the motherhouse for the Oblate Sisters. Today, over 63 years later, the sisters run a pre-school and kindergarten school for children and house retired priests. Jack was an Honorary Board Member of the Oblate Sisters Advisory Board and a member of the Cinquanta Club. The Antonucci family takes great pride in the fact Superior Beverage has been in business for 95 years. Community Service is something Mr. Antonucci and his family have been very dedicated to over the years. The Antonucci family started the Marion Antonucci Scholarship which is awarded annually to a deserving family member of a Superior Beverage Group associate. They also endowed the Maxcine Antonucci Library at Fellows Riverside Gardens in 2000. Jack was one of the initial members of the Italian Scholarship League and a longtime contributor to The Ohio State University and Youngstown State University. In 2012, the Antonucci family made a contribution to the Youngstown Board of Education for naming rights to the football field at the new Rayen Stadium. The football field is now Jack Antonucci Field in honor of the Rayen alumnus who played at the original stadium. Jack was an avid golfer and a founding member and past President of Naples National Golf Club. He was also a longtime member of Tippecanoe Country Club. Along with golf, his hobbies included fishing, traveling, watching football and western movies, and playing cards; in particular, "Gin". Besides his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Eleanor, who passed away in 2006, and a sister Marie Antonucci Bertch. He is survived by a son, John Marion (Marsha) Antonucci; granddaughters Jessica (Curt) McCamon, Stacey (Jason) Edwards and Lauren (Matthew) Pannunzio; great grandchildren John, Caylah, and Joseph McCamon, Jason Jr. and Owen Edwards, Matthew Jr. and Maximus Pannunzio; and six step-children. The Antonucci family would like to extend a very special and heartfelt thank you to Jack's doctors, caretakers and "special friends" for their love and devotion to "Grandpa". A private service was held on May 5th. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 50 Warner Rd., Hubbard, Ohio 44425. Arrangements were entrusted to Lane Family Funeral Homes, Canfield Chapel.