Tributes

John M. Martinelli, 30, of Asheville, NC, formerly of Rostraver Twp., passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at his home in Asheville. We will always remember Johnny as the uniquely special soul and spirit he was, and so very gifted. We know those who met and knew him immediately sensed this. He had an absolutely brilliant mind, so very fast, always visions, ideas, projects, goals, and he truly wanted to change the world for the better in ways we know only he could. He never stopped. This was the way he lived every day. He had so many fine qualities we will never forget. Highly ambitious, extraordinarily talented, articulate, well spoken, witty, charming, funny, not once negative but always incredibly positive and picking himself up no matter his circumstances. He did not have a mean or angry bone in his body. And many interests from music, DJ’ing & mixing, cars, recently attempting to decipher cryptocurrency, and even the peaceful serenity of nature. Ultimately his genuine kindness and striving to love and be loved we know was his greatest gift. He would want all of us to remember him this way most of all. While attending The Kiski School, Johnny became the national FBLA champion, #1 in the country, arguably a prodigy for his early work in cybersecurity which he received this recognition in Atlanta. He also went on to become the nation’s #1 “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” as voted by the well-known national business and marketing group Kennedy & Glazier in Chicago. From this, at 18 years old, he traveled to London as a guest speaker for the TIME event discussing his work in online marketing and strategies. Johnny spent a semester at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, for which in typical Johnny style said they couldn’t keep up with him, so he pursued developing his own cybersecurity and marketing businesses. We know he helped many businesses with his ideas and unique expertise. We want to thank his employer, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), specifically Mission Hospital of Asheville, NC for which held a very special place in Johnny’s heart and our hearts. They recognized his extraordinary talents, including his information security expertise, and supported him in ways which we can never repay. And to Chip Palmer at Mission, who was there for Johnny when no one else was. Heartfelt thanks to all of you for what you did for him. Johnny knew this and was grateful. Johnny is survived by his father, Dr. John R. Martinelli and wife Melissa (Verbanic) Martinelli, grandfather “Popo” Dr. John J. Martinelli of Rostraver Township, Uncle Dana Martinelli and wife Sheri of North Hills, mother Jonny Otis Keyes of Arlington, VT, step-grandmother Joyce Verbanic of Merrittstown, as well as his large extended family of friends, cousins, aunts, and uncles who loved him. Preceded by his loving grandmother “Mimi” Patricia A. Martinelli. We will all forever greatly miss him. A tragic loss in our hearts. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. on Friday, January 21, 2022 in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. 724-929-5300 www.FergusonFuneralHomeandCrematory.com Funeral services will be in the funeral home at 10 A.M. Saturday, January 22, 2022. Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery, Uniontown. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Johnny’s name to The Rathbun House of Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC, a non-profit all volunteer home for families visiting critically ill loved ones, hosting families free of charge purely from charitable donations. https://www.wncbridge.org/give/rathbun-house-give/

Tributes

John Mauro Martinelli

September 1, 1991 - January 13, 2022