John A Acerra

John A. Acerra passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on January 2, 2019 with his beloved wife Mary by his side. He was 77 year old.

John grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey.  He and Mary worked for many years in New York City in the restaurant industry running and overseeing over 300 restaurants before retiring and opening the Coach House Restaurant together in Pennsylvania. For the last thirteen years he and Mary lived in Gilbert, Arizona, where they enjoyed the sunshine and fresh fruit picked from their trees every morning.

John is survived by his loving wife, Mary, son James Acerra of San Diego California, daughters Andrea and Rosemarie Acerra of San Antonio Texas, step-son George Giannoulias of Montreal Canada as well as several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  John is also survived by sister-in-law Toula Maglaris of Burlington Vermont and brother-in-law Steve Georgopoulos of Ottawa Canada.

John’s personality was larger than life in so many ways. His business talents knew no bounds, and his unsurpassed reputation for perfection was legendary and well respected. He was an accomplished businessman, business owner and active retiree, who was still going to the gym everyday prior to his death. His many friends at the gym warmly looked up to John, admiring his business acumen, often seeking his counsel on a variety of subjects, affectionately referring to him as “The Boss”. While there is so much to say about John, it might simply be best to say that “those of you who knew him each have your own special memories of him”. He will best be remembered as a fiercely loyal friend, a consummate mentor, and a natural-born leader, whose talents, companionship and contributions to the world around him will be greatly missed.

SERVICE INFORMATION UPDATE: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday January 9, 2019 at St. Anthony’s of Padua, 121 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701 at 12 noon. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Middletown.