John Joseph Ciardullo, Jr.

January 20, 1940-November 21, 2023

John Joseph Ciardullo, Jr., beloved husband, father and grandfather, died November 21, 2023, of heart failure at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Stuart, Florida. A renowned architect, engineer, planner and real estate developer, John's highly successful professional career spanned five decades beginning with his founding of John Ciardullo Associates in 1970, today known as Ciardullo Architecture-Engineering, until his retirement in 2021. John's firm was widely recognized for award-winning public, private and parochial schools, community recreational centers, parks, housing developments, as well as contemporary and classical designed custom homes. In addition, John designed office towers and corporate headquarters.

John's lifelong design philosophy was deeply tied to his early years growing up in the Bronx where he observed that "people use space as an extension of their social needs," as stated in his book published in 2004 entitled "John Ciardullo Associates Architecture and Society." John believed architecture was the most social of all arts and the strength of his firm's success and John's legacy is strongly based on achieving a solution for specific social issues.

John's passion for architecture began while attending LaGuardia High School of Music and Art in New York City, where he graduated in 1957. He earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree at Bradley University in Illinois, and a Master in Architecture degree at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design in 1967. As a licensed structural engineer, while earning his degree at Harvard, he served as a Teaching Fellow in structural design. After Harvard, John moved to Chicago where he met his wife, Mary, marrying in 1968, with whom he shared 55 years of devoted marriage. John and Mary moved to New York the same year John's firm was established. John complemented his architectural practice by teaching architecture and city planning at Pratt Institute, as well as architectural design and building technology at Columbia University. John was a member of the American Institute of Architects and was registered with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Mary remembers John as "the ultimate nice guy" whose "livelihood, hobby and passion was architecture." She adds that he is highly credited as a mentor and inspiration to countless young professionals.

When not running Ciardullo Associates, John and Mary were avid travelers to Europe, Africa, Asia and many other destinations, and had most recently toured Italy. John was as devoted to his family as he was passionate about his work. He is preceded by his parents, John and Concetta, and survived by his beloved wife Mary; daughter, Julie; grandchildren (Matas and Gina); his sister, Judy Berger (Scott);

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