Family, Friends Honor Johnny LaMancuso With Tree At Fletcher
The LaMancuso and Ditonto families gathered Oct. 30 with friends, colleagues, and loved ones to dedicate the tree and a memorial stone to their son and grandson at M.J. Fletcher Elementary School. Johnny passed away peacefully April 15 following a valiant battle with Ewing sarcoma, two weeks after his 10th birthday. Submitted photos
The memorial stone that sits at the base of a chestnut oak tree in the backfield of Fletcher Elementary School in memory of Johnny LaMancuso.
The memorial stone that sits at the base of a chestnut oak tree in the backfield of Fletcher Elementary School in memory of Johnny LaMancuso.
The LaMancuso and Ditonto families gathered Oct. 30 with friends, colleagues, and loved ones to dedicate the tree and a memorial stone to their son and grandson at M.J. Fletcher Elementary School. Johnny passed away peacefully April 15 following a valiant battle with Ewing sarcoma, two weeks after his 10th birthday. Submitted photos
The memorial stone that sits at the base of a chestnut oak tree in the backfield of Fletcher Elementary School in memory of Johnny LaMancuso.
The memorial stone that sits at the base of a chestnut oak tree in the backfield of Fletcher Elementary School in memory of Johnny LaMancuso.
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Johnny LaMancuso loved collecting and cracking acorns with his grandfather, Guy Ditonto.
Now, a chestnut oak planted near the playground at M.J. Fletcher Elementary School will grow in his memory, offering shade for generations of children at the school he loved.
The LaMancuso and Ditonto families gathered recently with friends, colleagues, and loved ones to dedicate the tree and a memorial stone to their son and grandson. Johnny passed away peacefully April 15 following a valiant battle with Ewing sarcoma, two weeks after his 10th birthday.
Johnny's grandmother, Ellen Ditonto, spoke on behalf of the families, sharing memories of his years at Fletcher.
"Fletcher was a place where Johnny thrived," Ditonto said of the school where her grandson attended from kindergarten through fourth grade. Upon his diagnosis in second grade, she noted, he kept up with his schoolwork, often completing assignments from his hospital bed or home.
Ditonto spoke of the special bonds Johnny forged with second-grade teacher, Teresina Isabella, as both underwent cancer treatment during the same year, and with music teacher Anne Dolce, who helped her grandson find his singing voice. He also sang with his church choir, took piano lessons, and loved football, basketball, and baseball.
"Johnny showed his ability to be a leader on his sports teams and that matched his leadership as the oldest of four siblings with his sisters and brother looking up to him," she said.
His enthusiasm for sports and gym days inspired Principal Amanda Sischo to choose the spot near the playground for his memorial.
Following Ditonto's remarks, the family began planting the tree. Johnny's siblings Alessandra, Miriana, and Santino and several close friends took turns shoveling soil into the space around it, helping create a lasting tribute to someone they loved.
Johnny's mother, Gillian LaMancuso, a school counselor at Fletcher, then thanked those gathered for supporting their family and invited them to take a shovel and join in.
"Thanks to all of you, we have not had to walk this journey alone," she said.
City Parks Manager Dan Stone then joined Johnny's father, the Hon. John LaMancuso, and Johnny's younger brother, Santino LaMancuso, to place a memorial rock at the tree's base.
The family thanked Mayor Kim Ecklund, Stone, city Parks Department staff, Chautauqua Landscaping, and Jamestown Bronze Works for helping make the memorial possible.
In her remarks, Ditonto shared the family's hope for what the tree will mean in the years ahead.
"As this special tree grows and provides shade for kids and adults, we hope that it will reflect joy, innocence, and beauty -- all traits of our Johnny -- son, grandson, brother, nephew, and student," she said.