John Andrew Avellino, 55, died suddenly on Friday, June 6, 2014 in a motorcycle accident while riding along Route 9N near Bolton Landing during Americade. John was born on November 5, 1958 in Albany. He is Predeceased by his father John Avellino.

He was a 1976 graduate of Guilderland High School. After high school he worked briefly as a cook at the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home and Teresian House before joining the NYS Department of Transportation in 1977. In 1981, he met his wife Colleen at a Halloween Party in Albany. A few years later, in 1983, they were married in Catskill, NY and in 1987 they had a son named John Francis Avellino. John spent the majority of his career working for the Department of Transportation in Bridge Maintenance, with a brief stint as a correctional officer from 1983 to 1986 at Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, New York. He had just retired in April 2014, as a Bridge Maintenance Supervisor, after 36 years on the job. His coworkers loved to tease John about his passion for collecting lost treasures during his travels along the roadways. John enjoyed playing soccer for over 30 years in the Guilderland Soccer League, Capital District Soccer League and Afrim’s Indoor Soccer Leagues. He also coached youth soccer for his son in Clifton Park. He was a member of the Hickory Mountain Ski Club in Warrensburg with several of his family and friends. He loved fishing and ice fishing at his home that he built on Hadlock Pond in Washington County. He was happiest spending his summers by the lake with his family enjoying the outdoors and working on his home. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle and was planning to take a trip to Italy next spring with his wife.

He is survived by his wife, Colleen (Skelly) Avellino of Clifton Park, the love of his life of 31 years, his son, John F. Avellino, of Fort Collins, Colorado (girlfriend, Nicole Sano), his mother Helen (Parady) Avellino, his older sisters Karen (Michael) Norris of Guilderland, and Susan (Frank) Pezze of Guilderland, and younger brother Joseph (Sarah) Avellino of Guilderland. He is survived by 20 nieces and nephews and one great nephew.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday from 4-8 PM at Catricala Funeral Home Inc, 1597 Route 9, Clifton Park. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday at 10 AM at St. Edwards the Confessor Roman Catholic Church on 569 Clifton Park Center Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association of New York State at 4 Pine West Plaza Suite 405 Albany, NY 12205 or to Shriners Hospital for Children at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.