Giovanni ‘John’ Alfred Segalla

AMENIA — Giovanni “John” Alfred Segalla, 88, of Leedsville Road, passed away at Sharon Hospital, June 2, 2011, surrounded by his loving family.Born in North Canaan on Nov. 17, 1922, he was the son of the late Gustina (Pasin) and Giovanni Segalla. He was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School, class of 1942, where he excelled on the baseball field playing shortstop. He also played basketball.He married Amelia Peretti on Nov. 11, 1947, in St. Joseph’s Church in North Canaan. They were happily married for 63 years. Mrs. Segalla survives at home.As a youngster, John worked on the family farm and in other family businesses. He was owner of Amenia Sand & Gravel with his brother Armondo “Mono” until the late 1960s. He retired from Amenia Sand & Gravel in 2004, after 57 years with the company. In 1992, he developed the former Murphy dairy farm on Route 22 in Amenia and founded Segalla Country Club.An eclectic individual, at one time John owned his own helicopter with three helipads in the Amenia area. He founded ALA Airways and formed ALA Properties, a real estate investment company. He also founded Harlem Valley Landfill and he was a founder of Lifestar at Sharon Hospital. He loved music, especially Polish and country music. John had a generous spirit and could often be found helping others. He was a devout Catholic who felt that giving to others, especially those less fortunate than him, was much better than receiving. He was truly a family man devoted to his wife Amelia and daughters, Linda and Arlene of Sharon.He loved sports, especially baseball and was perhaps the greatest fan of the New York Yankees. During his lifetime he had the good fortune to know many Yankee players, and he had an extensive collection of player memorabilia, which he treasured. He played shortstop for the Amenia Monarchs in the Interstate League for many years and was a former manager of the team. John was noted for his honesty, generosity, candor and common sense as well as foresight. He wanted his employees to be the best that they could be and went to extremes to insure that they were treated fairly and took pride in their work. John was a good community citizen as evidenced by his service on the New York Council Knights of Columbus, the Dutchess County Liquor Board, the Maplebrook School board, the Sharon Hospital board and the board of the Salisbury Bank and Trust Company. In addition to his wife and daughters, John is survived by his brothers, Dr. Louis Segalla of North Canaan and Francis Segalla of Branford, Conn.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins in the United States and Italy. John was predeceased by his brothers Armondo, Anthony and Stanley.A Mass of Christian burial was held June 7 at St. Joseph’s Church. Burial followed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.Memorial donations may be sent to either Life Star, PO Box 5037, 80 Seymour St., Hartford, CT 06102-5037 or to St. Joseph’s Church, PO Box 845, North Canaan, CT 06018. Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan.

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