John Joseph Baglione was born in 1948 to Guy and Francis Baglione in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the youngest of four children and the only son. Much to his father’s chagrin, John was fond of taking apart his toys to figure out how they worked. Fortunately, as he got older he got better at putting them back together again. He also swam for Mount Saint Joseph High School, as well as studied Karate and sang in the Glee Club.

In 1968 at age 20 he enlisted in the US Army where he served for 9 years, ultimately receiving the rank of Senior Staff Sergeant. His mechanical aptitude sent him to the Army’s Signal Corp and to Italy. It was in Italy where he met Maura, the love of his life. They would marry soon after and give birth to two sons, Gianpaolo and Alessandro.

After leaving the military, John ultimately took a job with the Department of Defense and moved his family to Columbia, Maryland. There he continued to serve his country until his retirement after 33 years of service. After retirement, he enjoyed his four grandchildren and rekindling the love of travel that he shared with Maura that had been put on hold while they raised their family. They moved to South Carolina, and then finally to Durham, North Carolina. The end of his life was marred by heart failures and a series of illnesses that led to a gradual decline in his physical and cognitive abilities. He died at home with Maura beside him on March 14, 2025. He was 76 years old.

We remember the whole man. His patience and his temper. His love of novelty and his faithfulness to his family. His deeply-held convictions about right and wrong, and his willingness to meet people where they were. He had a quick wit, a dry sense of humor, and enjoyed a good argument. He had the kind of face that led strangers to ask him for directions even in places like Japan. He loved science fiction, terrible movies, and British comedy. He loved motorcycles and cars. He loved dogs, and they loved him. He loved his sons, and they loved him. Most of all he loved Maura, who he always said was his best friend and the best thing that ever happened to him. She loved him back, in sickness and in health, to the very end. We love you, Nonno. We love you, Babbo. I love you John, now and always.