John Steven Bellasalma

John Bellasalma passed away at his home in Moorpark, CA on April 25, 2020 after a 2 year battle with oropharyngeal cancer. He was surrounded by his family and close friends.

John was born in Newark, NJ to Anthony Arthur Bellasalma and Marie Anna (Vinciguerra) Bellasalma on April 20, 1953.

He is survived by his wife Vicki (Zurofsky) Bellasalma and daughter Stephanie who he admired and adored. John and Vicki were married in Masonville,CO on September 6, 1984 in a double cemony with Vicki’s sister, Diana (Zurofsky) Soderberg and brother in law, Kieth (Whitey) Soderberg. 

John graduated from Morristown High School and went on to earn a B.S. in engineering degree at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. His first job was at RFL Industries in Boonton, NJ where he met Vicki. He went on to work at Singer Kearfott in Little Falls, NJ until he moved on to Litton Industries (later to become Northrop Grumman) in Woodland Hills, California where he worked for 35 years. While working at RFL and Northrup, he was afforded the opportunity to travel across the United States and abroad working on protection and communications equipment, power system protection,sciencetific discoveries and national defense. As an engineer he had an intrical part in upgrading the NYC subway control systems. In 2006 he received a Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award for his contribution to  Deep Impact Inertial Reference System.

John loved spending time outdoors. He enjoyed growing vegetables in his garden, cooking, taking road trips with his family, spending time at the beach where he would boogie board, surf or just beachcomb. He also enjoyed taking long hikes, going to museums and shows, playing guitar, going deep sea fishing, fly fishing, hunting, target shooting, bow and arrow hunting, cross country skiing and gold panning.

John will be interred at Conejo Mountain Cemetery Camarillo, CA on May 9, 2020. Because of Covid 19, the ceremony will be private. A Celebration of Life will be planned when safer at home orders  have been lifted. A video of the graveside service will be uploaded to social media.. You can contact Vicki at jsbella2019@gmail.com for more information.

The family appreciates the outpouring of love from family, friends and caregivers. 

Memorial donations can be made to:

Surfrider Foundation, Ventura: Honor a loved one with a gift to Surfrider

St. Judes Childrens Hospital-Memphis: Memorial donations and gifts

American Cancer Society