The community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of John and Florence Bivona, a devoted pair known for their kindness, generosity, and unwavering love for their family.
John went to work with Brookhaven Town right out of high school, where he had the opportunity to meet his wife, the daughter of a co-worker. Like many residents, their families had summer homes in the Mastic-Shirley Area and relocated permanently from the city.
Though they never met during their early years, they grew up close to each other, with John attending William Floyd High School and Florence just over the border at Longwood, their son, Thomas, remembered. “They were involved in many things, but the family was at the heart of everything they did. They were the best grandparents you could imagine.”
While John moved up the ranks of the Brookhaven Highway Department over a 43-year career, Florence was a stay-at-home mom for a while and then became a fixture in the community as a bus driver with William Floyd for many years. “She was a great mom; everybody knew her; they all loved her,” Thomas said. In her spare time, she was into crafts—knitting, making candies, and doing things around their Mastic Beach home.
After years with the highway department, working his way up from laborer to area foreman, John became the deputy commissioner of the town’s Department of Waste Management. He was also involved in politics, serving as president of the Shirley Republican Club and then rising to chair the Brookhaven Town GOP. Retiring to Ridge, John revitalized the Leisure Village Republican Club and stayed active in local campaigns. Both were members of the Civil Service Employees Association, with John Serving as President of the union’s Highway Unit. He was also the Grand Knight of the James V. Kavanaugh Knights of Columbus Council 5293.
It was a “fairytale beginning,” son John said in remembrance, “when the love you shared forced you to take things into both your hands and sneak away to get married on Valentine’s Day in 1966, followed by a traditional wedding a few weeks later. You were parents for 55 years, and you both always exhibited the importance of family. A perfect example of a mother’s love and caring. A perfect example of a father’s guidance and strength. Perfectly balanced in equal parts. A brightly shining example to us all was your deep love for each other and your family. There are no two better models for all who knew you. Our hearts are broken into pieces now that you are both gone so suddenly, but soon, the memories and life examples you provided will overtake the pain. We will forever be guided by your example and we strive to reach for the stars and achieve our goals, always.”
“I have many fond memories of my aunt and uncle—also my Godfather—but one stands out the most,” said their niece, Carmela Lentz. “It was when I was about 11 and my uncle Johnny picked me up to spend the weekend with them to help with my new baby cousin John. I had the best weekend with them. It was a time when I felt so special.”
The couple didn’t let retirement slow them down and bought a motorhome to hit the road. “They were big Elvis fans and went down to Graceland and Nashville and plenty of other places, even Canada,” Thomas recalled.
The Bivonas had a big family, with daughter Florence Bivona-Eaton having grandson Christopher, who gave them three great-grandchildren: Brayden, Briella, and Brantley. John had two children, Johnny and Joseph, and Thomas gave them Riley and Ashlynn.
After a service at St. Jude’s Church in Mastic Beach, the Bivonas were interred at St. Lawrence the Martyr Cemetery in Sayville, joining other family members there. In Lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.