Obituary of John R. Valente, Jr.

John R. Valente, Jr., 73, Paradise Valley, AZ and formerly of Troy, NY, passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 23, 2024. His loss is completely unexpected and his family and friends are profoundly saddened. 

Born in Troy, NY, he was the son of the late John R. and Lillian Solari Valente, Sr. and was a graduate of Catholic Central High School, Class of 1968.

John was a retired Senior Vice President of IT for Wells Fargo Financial in Phoenix, AZ and had previously spent a long career as an Executive with Visa and CitiBank.

He was a U.S. and Italian Citizen, an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, a collector of fine wines, and a lover of old western movies.   

He was a lifelong member of the Troy Masonic Lodge and he had been a communicant of St. Augustine’s Church in Lansingburgh.

To merely say John was fun-loving and adventurous would be an understatement. He would try anything once and would often spend months at a time in Italy. He traveled around the world to locations like Egypt, Vietnam, Africa, Peru, Bali, India, Hong Kong, and Panama. He chased the sun as often as he could, living in Arizona in the winter and Saratoga Lake in the summer, where he would regularly be found on a boat with friends.  John’s smile, his laugh, his fun spirt & generosity are attributes everyone who knew him will always remember and cherish.

John was the devoted father of Rachel E. (David) Stephens of Wellesley, MA and Jason M. Valente of Ballston Spa, NY, cherished grandfather of Jackson D., Jason T. and Lillian E. Stephens, dear brother of the late Alan Valente, also survived by two loving nephews; Jay Valente and Michael Valente, plus countless friends he considered family.

Relatives and friends are invited to John’s Funeral Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Lansingburgh and to his Calling Hours on Friday, April 5, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, Inc., 565 Fourth Avenue (corner of 115th St. in Lansingburgh), Troy, NY 12182.

Spring internment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Rutland, VT.

John’s children would like to express their most sincere appreciation to their father’s extended family and friends for providing a lifetime of love, laughter and adventure. 

To express your on-line condolences please visit sanvidgefuneralhome.com