John Richard Cecchinato Sr.

EAST CANAAN — John Richard Cecchinato Sr., 70, of Lower Road, died Nov. 5, 2021, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie, NY.

He was born in Great Barrington on Dec. 15, 1950, the son of Estella (Cummings) and Louis Cecchinato.

John was a tractor trailer driver for over 40 years, working for Dickinson Trucking in Canaan and later for Yellow Freight Trucking out of Waterbury and then Middlebury, until his retirement in 2010.

John loved doing everything and anything he could for his children. He was a Boy Scout master for Troop 22 in Canaan, and was always at his kids’ Little League games, cheering them on and coaching the Yankees. He enjoyed watching football and baseball, always cheering his teams, the New York Yankees and the New York football Giants. John even started a softball team in the 1970s called Chicks Raiders. John loved to golf with his friends and family and could often be found on the golf course on most any day.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of over 47 years, Nancy (Leach) Cecchinato; his daughter, Heather, and son-in-law Joe Wetzstein of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; his son, John Jr. and daughter-in-law Tiffany (Lee) Cecchinato of Stratford Conn.; and his daughter, Jessica of Stockbridge, Mass.

John also leaves behind his grandson Jackson Wetzstein; his granddaughter Ciara Panza-Cecchinato; his granddaughter Caitlyn Cecchinato-Flint; his granddaughter Marion Trotta; his grandson JJ Trotta; and his great-granddaughter Sadie Ellis. John also leaves behind his brothers, Louis Jr., Joseph and Nelson; his sister Terry (Cecchinato) Kelly; and many nieces and nephews and countless wonderful additional family and friends.

A memorial service will be held in John’s honor on Sunday, Nov. 21, 1 to 6 p.m. at the Couch-Pipa VFW in North Canaan to celebrate John’s life.

Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Couch-Pipa VFW Auxiliary.

We love you dad! Thank you for introducing us to great music, the Beach Boys, the Beatles and Chicago. Go Yankees!

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