John G. Epifano

John G. Epifano passed peacefully, surrounded by family on June 29, 2024, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ.  John was a loving husband, father, brother, son and friend.  He was 56 years old.

John is predeceased by his mother, Annemarie (Jamilkoski) Epifano.  John is survived by his loving wife, Dawn (Zajewski) Epifano and their four children: Joseph, Madeline, Robert and Michael, all of Warren NJ; his two sisters Christine Taleghani and her husband Barmac of Yorktown, VA.; Lisa Epifano and her partner John Bovankovich of Wilmington DE; his brother Robert Epifano, Jr and his wife Pamela of Bridgewater, NJ; and his father Robert Epifano, Sr of Naples FL., as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

John grew up in Piscataway, NJ and is an alumnus of St. Frances Cabrini elementary school and St. Joseph’s HS in Metuchen.  John also attended Tulane University until he decided he would much prefer to construct buildings.  So, for the last 30+ years, John had owned and managed and grown the Epic group of construction companies, with his brother Robert.  John was passionate about work (he especially enjoyed the pressure and adrenaline of “bid day”), and he loved his co-workers.  Epic was a second home and family to him.  In fact, it was at an Epic company picnic where John met Dawn, his future wife! 

For many years John served on the Associated Construction Contractors of NJ’s Board of Trustees and was active in collective bargaining negotiations with the construction trades.  John also served as a Management Trustee on the New Jersey Carpenters Funds.

John had many other joys outside of construction: He loved coaching his kids as well as other children throughout Warren Township. As a past president of the Warren Baseball & Softball Inc (now the WHBSA), John spent many years dedicated to coaching others and sharing the joy of team sports like baseball, softball and basketball.

John loved his annual family trips to Disney World and Universal Studios.  He loved the thrill from all the rides and embraced the joy like a little kid.  He also loved visiting their home in the Florida Keys, where John would fish and relax in the pool with family and friends.  John was an avid Yankee fan since he was a young child.  And like most of us, John loved cheering for Rutgers Basketball while attending games at the RAC.  John also enjoyed golfing (mostly just to spend quality time with family and friends) and “game night” with all his children.  Those who knew John well will fondly recall his love of Broadway Musicals – a joy he inherited from his mother.

Whether at home or in the Keys, John was passionate about cooking and grilling. The family loved all his preparations - from homemade sauces to pulled pork on his outside fire pit.  John also loved to make homemade sausage with the entire extended family – a tradition he inherited from his father. 

John will be deeply missed by his family, friends and co-workers.  All are invited to attend the visitation on Sunday, July 7, 2024, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the Sheenan Funeral Home, 233 Dunellen Ave, Dunellen, NJ  08812.  Interment will be private.

Donations in John's memory may be made to the good work of the Make A Wish Foundation or the Lyons VA. 

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