John Ligouri

In Loving Memory of John Anthony Ligouri
1941 - 2026

John, 85, of El Dorado Hills, California, passed away on September 17, 2026, at Kaiser Hospital in Roseville, California, with his devoted wife and daughter by his side.

Born on February 2, 1941, in San Francisco, California, to John and Leanor Ligouri, John grew up in San Francisco and graduated from Sacred Heart High School, where he played football. He attended City College of San Francisco and barber college before opening his own barber shop in Mill Valley, California. He later worked for JALCO, one of the largest liquor distributors at the time, where he was an active member of the Teamsters Union. He went on to work as a funeral home attendant for Halsted N. Gray-Carew & English before retiring and moving to El Dorado Hills just a few blocks from his sister Carol and brother-in-law Dennis.

John was a talented guitarist, folk singer, and artist. As a young man, he and two close friends, John and Greg Cheli, formed The Sierra Trio. Together they entertained family and friends, creating lasting memories through music and laughter, often around the campfire during annual trips to Yosemite. John would gladly perform anywhere for anyone. He especially loved American folk and country music from the 1950s and 1960s. You were likely to hear him cover “Tom Dooley” by The Kingston Trio, “Island in the Sun” by Harry Belafonte, “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash, and John Denver’s “Country Roads.”

John was also a talented and meticulous painter who enjoyed working with watercolors and oils, creating beautiful pieces on canvas and even on river rocks. Alongside his cousin and fellow artist, Milton Snyder, John could be found selling his paintings at Art in the Park in Burlingame, California. And chances are you would also find him guitar in hand, singing for festivalgoers.

In 1972 John married Rose Stark and together they welcomed their daughter, Gina and son Joe. John was an incredibly proud father. As his children grew into adulthood, he watched with immense pride as they built their own lives and careers, created families of their own, and found their paths in life. He never missed an opportunity to share their accomplishments with friends, and cherished every phone call and visit.
On September 12, 1993, John married Karen Hannon. They enjoyed many trips to Lake Tahoe and the Gold Country creating wonderful memories along the way. John treasured every moment spent with their grandchildren, and always looked forward to family visits. Whether watching the grandchildren play in the pool, hunt for Easter eggs in the yard, or watching his granddaughters perform, he found tremendous happiness in the simple moments spent together. The life he shared with Karen and their family brought him some of his greatest joy.

A faithful Bay Area sports fan, John was a lifelong supporter of the San Francisco Giants, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Golden State Warriors. From Kezar Stadium to Candlestick Park, on the radio and television, John loved cheering for his teams. He especially enjoyed sharing that passion with his wife, Karen, and daughter, Gina, creating a family tradition that would live on.

John grew up in an era when cowboys were heroes, boys wore cowboy hats and played with cap guns, and Westerns filled the television screen. His childhood love of the Old West stayed with him throughout his life. He enjoyed Western movies and books, collected Western memorabilia, and had a particular fondness for California’s Gold Country. He often dreamed of living on a ranch, embracing the cowboy lifestyle he had admired since childhood. Though that dream never came to fruition, he never stopped being a cowboy at heart.

In his later years, John lived with Parkinson’s disease, facing its challenges with the same resilience and positive spirit that he demonstrated throughout his life. Despite the difficulties he encountered, his love of family and life sustained him.

Above all, John loved his family deeply and was loved deeply in return. His passion for life and consistently good nature lifted the spirits of those around him. He lived with a song in his heart and an appreciation for what he called, “the simple life.” He will be profoundly missed by his family and his friends. The world is a little dimmer without him, as this cowboy makes his final ride to that ranch in the sky.

John was preceded in death by his beloved son, Joe. He is survived by his wife Karen, his daughter Gina (John), his four grandchildren, and his sister Carol (Dennis).

Information regarding a service or gathering will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.