FARMINGTON – John “Johnny” Adamo, 88, of Wilton, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, Nov. 17, at Orchard Park, Farmington, where he had been residing for nearly one year.

He was born July 8, 1917, in New York City, the only son of Michael and Gasperina (LoCascio) Adamo. He received his education in New York City schools and graduated from a vocational school, where he earned his master plumber license.

He was a veteran of World War II, where he served in the U.S. Army as a technical sargeant in the Signal Corp. He served in Panama as well as the Battle of the Bulge.

On Oct. 9, 1944, in New York City, he married Ruth Robbins of Wilton. From 1945 to 1947, they made their home in New York, returning to Wilton in 1947.

He was a plumbing inspector for the town of Wilton for a number of years and was employed by Henry Fournier of Livermore Falls. He later worked for K&H Foster Construction, became a millwright for Norwock Shoe Co., and also was employed at G.H. Bass.

In 1982, his hobby of photography, his love of people, and his joy of working side by side with beloved wife, Ruth, brought him to a new workplace, the SunJournal. For 13 years, they shared the experience of working in tandem for the paper; he as photographer, she as news correspondent.

He was a member and former deacon of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Wilton, and was a member of Wilton Masonic Lodge 156. He was a former member of the Hosmer-Edwards American Legion Post, Wilton, and was a member of the National American Legion.

He was a devoted husband and father, and cherished his family and home. He had innate mechanical skills, as exhibited by his inventions and his ability to build and create with his hands. He will be remembered as being a gentle man and a gentleman with an award-winning smile that could soon make a stranger feel like a friend.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Ruth, of Wilton; two daughters, Starr Adamo and her partner, Beverly Francis, of New Portland, and Michelle Ouellette and her husband, Roger, of Bowdoin; a sister, Josephine Vinciguerra of Virginia; two grandchildren, Torri-Jean Gannon and her husband, Steve, and their son, Miles, all of Brunswick, and Jesse Jones and his wife, Sandra, of Lisbon; and three nephews and two nieces.

He was predeceased by his parents; and three sisters, Rose Adamo, Jean Masiello and Minnie Adamo.