It just hit me hard in the heart when I read about the laying to rest of John V Auriemma. This even touches me more as I am not a resident of New Jersey, but growing up in sports fields and with friendly coaches made me feel I understood the kind of person he was. People here in Belleville and Verona, New Jersey, are struggling to cope with the sad news; he was much more than a coach. He had become part and parcel of their being with the mundane.
John V Auriemma passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2025. The family failed to divulge what exactly happened, and that is okay because everyone is giving them space. What really stands out is how much people loved him for the way he treated others.
John was born in Belleville, New Jersey. He was interested in sports and good at many games at a very early age. It is said that he had a nice nature and was supposed to have helped others all along. He later became a youth baseball coach, from whom many children learned the disciplines of building up confidence. His teams also won because the students believed in him. I remember my school coach who used to guide me the same way, and seeing John’s story reminded me of that time.
Before he became a famous coach, he was already a star in his own right in that area, being an exceptional athlete in Belleville High School. After high school, he proceeded to Montclair State University. He also worked as a physician in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and was working at Verizon as well.
Something worth mentioning is that although John was never professional in sports, his love for it was very pure; he simply loved to help young players develop in this field. A lot of people are now posting stuff about him online, sharing memories. Some of them, even just a few of those, really show how they cared.
One friend wrote that he was heartbroken and remembered all the fun times they had while coaching in the mid-nineties. He said John felt like a brother. Another friend wrote about losing him, feeling too heavy, and how their gatherings would never again feel the same. Even those words made me think about some old friends of mine.
People from Verona have even created a GoFundMe to collect funds to help his family with funeral and memorial costs.
John V. Auriemma Leaves Behind His Wife Janet and Their Two Sons
After twenty-one years of marriage, he is survived by his wife, Janet Reiman Auriemma. They are said to be very close; in fact, they were high school sweethearts. Janet has not posted anything about the situation so far, but in past posts showing how proud she was of him, she would often post pictures of John.
Janet is also an athletic person. Plays softball and tennis on the community level. John has always been her cheering squad and never missed any of her games. That part really knocks me out because it’s a reflection of how my parents support each other in the small things.
John and Janet have two sons, Jaye and Jarrett. They are both naturally talented athletes, as sports were an integral part of their household. John was their first coach. Jaye recently graduated from Verona High School, where he was involved in numerous sports. He also participated in the boys’ lacrosse team, wearing jersey number seventeen and playing as a midfielder, which helped his team win several times.
Along with his wife and kids, John is also survived by his siblings Nicholas, Paul, and Diane, plus the rest of the family.
Family reserved the memorial for him at Prout Funeral Home in Verona, New Jersey, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 3 in the afternoon to 7 in the evening.
It is very evident that Belleville and Verona suffer loss no less than something special. After reading all these memories, one can see that sometimes the most important people are not celebrities or known players. They are probably the quiet people who build others without notice and make life better for all those around them. You may also be interested in: North Carolina Mother Says The Miller Family And A Coach Ignored Custody Rules And Let Her Son Run Away
