In Memory of John B. Ligas

Obituary

John B. Ligas passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. John was born on March 29, 1937 in Utica NY. John was the president of his Utica Free Academy class, where he was a star football player, graduating in 1955. He graduated from SUNY Alfred majoring in Business Management. After college, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and made lifelong friends during his service to our country. John was married to Diane C. Gargiulo in 1959 at St. Mary Mt. Carmel Church and they spent over 66 years together.

John is survived by his loving wife, Diane C. (Gargiulo) Ligas and their four sons John A. (Sibley), Michael (Anne Marie), Jeffrey (BeHai) and Stephen. John and Diane have nine grandchildren (Allie, Zane, Mariah, Emory, Kelsey, Max, Zachary, Benjamin (Grace), Caitlin) and one great-grandchild (Samuel). John is also survived by his niece Theresa Gurdo (Ed), sisters-in-law Marjorie Brower, Judith Acee and Judith Gargiulo as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Margaret Ligas, sister Angela Swan; in-laws, John and Josephine Gargiulo, brothers-in-law, Happy Acee Jr., Benjamin Brower and John Gargiulo Jr. 

John has loved and lived in the Whitesboro - Utica area for most of his life and has been involved in the Utica business community; leading endeavors such as Evans, Garber, Ligas & Paige Advertising Agency, Howard, Ligas & Hill and John B. Ligas Associates. John has also been a prolific volunteer over his life spending countless hours supporting organizations such as the Liberty Affordable Housing, Mohawk Valley Advertising Club, Snowbird Lake Association, Family Nurturing Center, United Way, Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. John looked out for everyone and had a way of helping people in need by providing jobs or business connections. Being everyone’s friend wasn’t a goal for him; it was just his way of being alive in the world.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Mulberry unit at the Sitrin Health Center for taking care of him.

Calling hours will be held at Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home at 13 Oxford Rd, New Hartford, NY from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Friday May 1, 2026. Memorial Services will be on Sat May 2, 2026 at 9:30 AM at the funeral home, followed by the burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Whitesboro, NY.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Feed Our Vets (https://feedourvets.org/ or (315) 525-9206) in memory of John B. Ligas. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Online message of sympathy may be left at: www.fwefh.com