1957 - 2025
OBITUARY
John B. Caramagna D.O. Son of John and Judith Caramagna of East Hampton, NY passed away into God’s care on January 15th, 2025.
Originally from Brooklyn, NY. John learned the craft and business of construction from his father at the age of 8. He attended St. Edmund’s Catholic School where he made many lifelong friends. He moved to East Hampton, NY as his father’s business expanded to build world renowned homes for architect Charles Gwathmey, one of the “New York Five”. There he attended Springs School and East Hampton High School along with his 3 sisters: Theresa Jeanette and Margaret.
He had a passion for learning how everything was constructed, how it would function, and he always remembered the lessons his father taught him about building and good family values of integrity, honesty, responsibility, and devotion to God nurtured by his mother.
He was intrigued by science and medicine and strongly believed in service to others. He studied emergency medicine in Vermont and proudly brought his skills as an A-EMT to the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association. He received recognition and accolades from Suffolk Couty for his service.
He attended SUNY Oswego where he met his best friend, Rich who fostered his love for bicycling. They worked together in the Oswego cafeteria, trained on the bicycle together and even did “Strike and Set” setup for concerts. He made many friends at Oswego and made it a point to keep in touch with them and their parents.
When he returned home to continue his education at Suffolk County Community College, he worked for his dad, volunteered with East Hampton Ambulance and did a stint as a Park Ranger and a Marine Police Officer. He became a private pilot, learned to be a photographer, travelled with his family by boat and even rode his bike from New York to Florida with his cousin Stephen.
A Year later, his friend Rich would recruit him as a cycling coach for the Olympic-like New York State Empire State Games. With Rich he managed junior aged riders and women’s and men’s Bicycle teams in competition and spurred them on to win gold, silver and bronze medals. As per bicycling it was in 1989 that by simply looking to his right in a cycling peloton that he met his future wife, Barbara.
As his studies advanced at Hofstra University, John also worked as a phlebotomist at Massapequa General Hospital. There he was inspired to pursue the goal of becoming as Osteopathic Physician. He was focused on learning everything he could about the human body, its function and how to make people healthy.
After receiving his Baccalaureate degree from Hofstra, he attended the New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddleford, Maine and graduated in 1996 with a degree of Doctor of Osteopathy.
He married Barbara Grocki, DDS in between second and third year of medical school, almost 5 years to the day he met her.
His post-graduate medical residency was at Massapequa General Hospital where he was a Chief Resident. He had a close relationship with his Medical Director, Gary Rachlin, D.O. and with the E.R. Physicians, especially Joseph Bruni, M.D. The nurses there would call him “Dr. Care” because of the kind, gentle, respectful way he treated every person.
John later taught student's osteopathic manipulative medicine at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He loved the students and believed in the value of hands-on manual medicine and the ability of the body to heal itself if he just gave it a push in the right direction. He always said it was God working through him.
He had a home private practice in Family Practice Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. He utilized hyperbaric oxygen therapy and I.V. glutathione in the treatment of Parkinsons Disease. He was a fierce advocate for patients: He gave medical advice freely if it would help someone.
John’s hobbies included model rocketry, flying model gliders and drones, photography, astronomy, and ham radio.
He was a member of the National Society of Rocketry as a level 3 rocketeer, Safety Officer of the Long Island Silent Flyers, member of the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).
John Loved people; he would drop everything to help them. He blew snow in the neighborhood so seniors would be able to get out of their homes and built snow mountains for the neighborhood kids.
If you talked to him for more than 5 minutes, you were destined to become good friends with him. He loved children and his eyes would soften whenever they spoke. He enjoyed imparting his skilled to them and was very proud of his nieces and nephews. He would do anything to help his parents.
He was a devoted supportive husband – he loved being married and said so. He never hesitated to say “I Love You”. He will be missed terribly. He touched so many lives with his caring way, his intellect, his sense of humor and his willingness to work hard and be there for others.
He is survived by his parents, 3 sisters and his heartbroken wife Barbara Grocki DDS.
VISITATION
Monday, January 20
2:00 - 4:00 PM & 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Tuesday, January 21
2:00 - 4:00 PM & 7:00 - 9:00 PM
New Hyde Park Funeral Home
506 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, NY
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Wednesday, January 22
10:00 AM
St. Hedwig R.C. Church
1 Depan Avenue, Floral Park, NY
INTERMENT
Holy Rood Cemetery
111 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY