Johanna M. Pontillo

We are saddened by the loss of Johanna Pontillo, 94 of Brooklyn, who passed away on May 22, 2022.Johanna is survived by her two sons John (daughter-in-law Anne) and Vincent (daughter-in law Dorothy), and two grandchildren, Ethan and Victoria. She is predeceased by her beloved husband Vincent Pontillo Sr.

Johanna was a lifelong resident of Brooklyn. She started her early career in retail, working for Daniel's clothing store as a floor manager and later as a clothing buyer. She later went to work for The Brooklyn Public Library the central office. In 1962, she married her husband Vincent and left the work force to start her family. Johanna reentered the workforce in the 1970s, taking a secretarial position with the New York City Board of Education, Department of Special Education. Later on, she became a paraprofessional, working directly with special education students in the classroom of Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School, where she stayed for decades, completing over 40 years of service before retiring in 2019 at the age of 92. In that time, she became a cherished and loved friend to her colleagues and she received numerous acknowledgements over the years, including "paraprofessional of the year" award by the New York City Teacher's Union.

Johanna was a fiercely independent woman, who endured her share of hardships, including the loss of her husband in 1986, but she remained deeply devoted to her catholic faith and was an active member of The Third Order of St. Francis. She lived independently until her passing, and still enjoyed shopping, cooking and keeping in touch with her sons, nieces, grandchildren and friends regularly.

Johanna is lovingly remembered by her family and friends as a happy, optimistic and caring person, always concerned about others. She was known for putting other's needs ahead of her own and went out of her way to help. Her warmth, kindness and love of people was obvious to all

If friends wish to honor Johanna's memory with a charitable donation, the family requests one of Johanna's favorite charities "St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital".