Josephine "Jo" Nanette Molinari

Josephine N. Molinari Obituary followed by Eulogy

Josephine Nanette Molinari (née Gulotta), 96, of Blue Point and longtime resident of Ronkonkoma, New York, passed gently February,12 2026.  Born July 6,1929 in Brooklyn to Gasper and Mary, she spent summers in Ronkonkoma with her sister Vivian and brother Gasper.

 

Well known for her prolific career as an artist in various mediums, Josephine’s retirement years with her husband, Robert were fixtures in Lake Ronkonkoma at the American Legion Post 155, Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Association and Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association.  She received a Certificate of Appreciation and "OWLS Lake Ronkonkoma Citizen of the Year 2014" for her generous and dedicated work on all she did towards the betterment of the Lake Ronkonkoma community.  Josephine loved traveling and through the decades visited stateside and abroad with her mother, sister, daughters and granddaughter. Her bright personality and sense of fun shone through in all she did.  

 

A graduate of New York Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences with a degree in Chemistry, Josephine worked at Pfizer before motherhood. While raising their 5 children, her career as a painter found her powerful paintings spread across America from the many juried art shows in Greenwich Village. She was predeceased by her husband Robert, son Paul and daughter Eve. She is survived by son Bruce, daughters Lynn and Judy, son-in-law Ronald Tramontano, son-in-law Michael Bonadonna, grandchildren Michael, Christine, Nicholas, great grandchildren Kris, Michaela and Liam.

Internment:

Ronkonkoma Cemetery, Hawkins Ave. 

In lieu of Flowers, Donations to The American Legion Post 155 are appreciated

 

Josephine N. Molinari Eulogy

Mom had her own style

a strong sense of fun, responsibility

and drama.

Look at her paintings:

Determined figures with their faces into the winds of trouble…

Mothers holding their child with the purest expression of love and devotion…

Florals with objects full of meaning from our home.

Powerful, strong, formidable nudes

Christmas Cards with stories of places she’s been touched by or evocative items from home.

 

I loved watching her face during the Greenwich Village Art Shows as she talked about her works.

This small woman with such powerful canvases that found homes across the country… These paintings are who she is.

 

Her art lives on in most of our homes via paintings, sketches or Christmas cards - touch them and you touch her spirit.

 

We were raised with the smell of turpentine, linseed oil and fresh baked bread and chocolate chip cookies.  Ever the artist, ever the devoted wife and mother.

 

A Unique woman, always herself.  Playful, joyful, open and welcoming.  Finding joy and beauty even in the darkest of times.

 

Mom’s boundless energy was present in all she did.

Painting, gardening, tennis, volunteer work, Christmas and Saint Joseph’s cooking, baking and prep - these were her holidays and she loved having everyone around her table.

 

And fun!  Always the first on the dance floor.  And oh, she loved her Father and Brother Gasper.  They didn’t try to tame that boundless energy, they let her spirit run with them alongside her.

 

Bob & Jo met at the New York State Institute for the Arts & Sciences. Their fate was sealed when between classes they had  their first kiss in the swimming pool at Hotel St. George.  Married in a double ceremony along with Aunt Vivian and Uncle Barney - the reception in the same hotel. A romantic decision I am sure. 

 

Theirs was a marriage of partnership.  Mom painted, Dad built her an easel, stretched canvases, packed the car, drove and helped set up her art shows.  He’d grumble a bit, but he supported her art with all he did.  You could see the look of pride in his eyes when he looked at her at the art shows.

 

Two years after he retired, Mom forced Dad to join several organizations to get him out from underfoot. 

Whatever organization he joined, Mom was there by his side doing what needed to be done; at the American Legion, Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society, AmVets,  Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Association and Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association.  They were prominently active in all the organizations.  She continued after his death and received a Certificate of Appreciation and "OWLS Lake Ronkonkoma Citizen of the Year 2014" for her generous and dedicated work on all she did towards the betterment of the Lake Ronkonkoma community.

 

Mother, Daughter, Sister, Wife, Artist, Athlete, Traveler, Gardner, Ronkonkoma lover - her motto was always “to be of use.”

 

Family was so important to her.  Along with her devotion to her parents and siblings, staying connected with her Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nephews and their families had her delighting in each person and our family traditions. She took us from rolling our eyes to eyes misting over during her reenactment of her Grandfather’s reenactment of St Joseph being turned away at the inn 3 times. We learned the beauty of family tradition.

 

As an athlete Mom was deadly with a tennis racket or ping pong paddle. Bicycling, kayaking, swimming, cross country skiing, long walks in nature.  I bragged to my college students about my 85 year old Mom’s kayaking, swimming and bicycling.  When I told Mom how proud I was of her, she said, and I quote,”It’s Work! It’s Work, honey! It’s Work! You have to Work at it!”  And work she did until CoVid when the activities sadly faded away one by one.  2024 was the last time I was able to take Mom out kayaking and was so very sad when last summer she declined to go.

 

An itinerant Traveler, she, with her small carry-on bag, went so many places.

      She never brought a camera - always a sketch pad.  

 

First the travels with her mother to Sicily and Italy, adding trips and cruises with Aunt Vivian.  When Eve called and said Mike was on travel,  she’d say “Oh, Bob.  Eve is going to be all alone.  I think I should be with her.”   Off she went to Germany - several times!  My tours in Switzerland, Italy and Ireland had her tagging along and she became one of the gang.  She delighted in being amongst us at gigs, rehearsals, family and sight seeing.  She was adopted - she called the  musicians “Her Boys”  who all send their sincere condolences.

 

She loved traveling to Eve and Mikes.  Every time there, they had new adventures for her to experience and nightly music they would play for her. Mom’s 75th Birthday was a Girl’s Weekend there  - we had a grand time celebrating Mom with her in a tiara, visits to the Smithsonian, Botanical Gardens and absolutely, the most special, Mom being knighted at Medieval Times.

 

Such a music lover but Grandma denied her music lessons growing up.  She was determined that we five would play instruments.  When each of us turned seven, she grabbed us by the lapels, looked us deep in the eyes and said, “What instrument are you going to play until you graduate high school?”  She went to every school concert, musical, guitar mass - any performance she’d be smiling in the audience as we played on.  She was our best cheerleader.  Went to Paul’s heavy metal gigs in town and traveled all the way to St. Croix to not only see him but to hear him play.  She came to my first NYC club performances, joined me on some European tours and for years to New Rochelle for the annual concerts with me and “her boys.”

 

For 7 years Mom was our “Queen of the Kitchen” at my Dance Retreat.  Together we’d prepare the menu and Mom would put everything together beautifully.  Each one of those hungry dancers loved Our Queen - we’d serenade her with song and she danced with us on party night.  She touched each of their hearts with her joyful spirit.  Called them all her adopted daughters and was so delighted being with “The Boys”  again.  

 

Last Music Note:  Mom requested that Judy and I sing “Little Rabbit Foo Foo” but we won’t.  In it’s place, Mike has a song for her. "Jelly Jo!"

 

Thanks to her granddaughter, Christine, during CoVid, Mom wrote her family’s stories and recipes in the book, “The Full and Varied Lives of Jo Molinari and Family."  In my opinion, she’s too modest about herself.  And that is she.  Her determination, talent and hardships are glossed over. But she didn’t focus on the difficulties of life because she found joy and beauty even in the darkest of times.

 

Her infectious, joyous delight in the world, the “I can do that” attitude, making new discoveries, and looking through a painter’s eye. We learned from Mom that what is in your heart must be followed otherwise your spirit dies.  

 

Her smile and bright eyes

Dancing the Lindy

Teaching us the Twist after Saturday’s chores

And the dreaded Chicken Dance

 

We have so many stories of Mom embarrassing her daughters to tears as teenagers and adults - and they are some of the best memories I have. 

 

Mom has tremendously influenced us in all our lives. Each one of her children have aspects of her personality and followed our own path - some in the eyes of the world, the “not normal” road but being true to ourselves with Creativity, Boundless Energy, Determination and Joy.

 

We are proud to be the children of such a woman. She created beauty, cared deeply, loved strongly, worked hard and was first on the dance floor ready for joy. Her life has been full, shared with all of you.

This lives on in us all and her boundless spirit is always in our hearts.

 

By her daughter Aszmara L. Sherry