Obituary: Johnny N. Sulli
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sun, 11/17/2019 - 8:54am
John Nicholas Sulli was born Jan. 1, 1953, in San Jose, Calif., to Emil and Eleanor Sulli. Surrounded by the family and caregivers that loved and cared for him, on Nov. 8, 2019, he passed peacefully and sweetly from this life to reunite with his family who have pre-deceased him. Johnny was blessed with being born and living with Down's Syndrome for 66 years, 10 months in mortality.
In 1968, Johnny moved to Carson City with his family where he participated in a Work Program associated with the Ormsby Association for Retarded Citizens, competed in Special Olympics, and loved to listen and play music; especially air drumming to records from the 50's through 80's.
When he was in his prime, he could literally hear a song by the Beatles, Elvis Presley, as well as a multitude of other bands, and tell you the name of the song, year it came out, and sometimes rattle off the album it was on; it was truly amazing. Johnny was always the life of the party; loved and cherished by all who met him.
He loved to dance and sing; even if the mic was fake. There were times he would carry a half of a wooden clothes pin in his pocket, put it in his mouth, and ask, "You Got a Light", then laugh at his own joke. The majority of the time he had such a positive outlook on life and he didn't know how to cast judgment on anyone. He would wake each day, look out the window, and say, "Ohhhh, It's a Beautiful Day Today."
His nickname was "Picasso" because he loved to draw and color. He was loved and cared for by members of his family. His Sister, Kathy Boehmer, predeceased him in 1989, followed by his Father, Emil Sulli, in 2001, and finally his Mother, Eleanor Sulli, in 2010. Johnny continued to be cared for by his family coupled with the amazing staff at Going Places, REACH, State of Nevada Aging and Disability, Tungland, and Dungarvin for the remainder of his life.
Johnny is and ever will be a loving son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend; he is adored by his posterity and those that called him friend. He is beloved by all who know him. His quiet strength of love and kindness is the essence of his greatness. He is truly an example of a person whose life has been devoted to the pursuit of Christlike qualities and attributes.
Johnny is survived by his siblings Joann Medina and Nicholas V. Sulli (Teri); his First Generation Nephews: Rick Medina, Jerry Medina, Robbie Boehmer (Kristi), and Shawn Sulli; First Generation Nieces: Johanna Nebeker (Sean), Davina Cantrell (Robert), Rebecca Saraceno (Michael), and Chelsea Ross (Mike); and Second Generation Nieces and Nephews: Mikey, Chelsea, Austin, Brooke, Teresa, Sullivan, Isabelle, Michael and Macey.
An open memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, in Carson City, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 411 N. Saliman Road.
A reception will immediately follow in the Church cultural hall.
- Carson City
- 80's
- aging
- album
- Austin
- Beautiful
- CA
- Caregivers
- carson
- church
- City
- clothes
- cultural
- dance
- day
- Disability
- Draw
- Drumming
- Elvis
- Family
- kindness
- life
- love
- Members
- Memorial
- michael
- Moved
- Music
- Nevada
- Obituaries
- obituary
- party
- play
- positive
- program
- pursuit
- saturday
- service
- sing
- Special Olympics
- staff
- state
- State of Nevada
- strength
- Jesus
