John Joseph Fusco

John Joseph Fusco, 66, died April 29, 2023, at his home in Oceanside, California, after battling cancer for ten months. He was born to Lou and Anne Fusco, January 9, 1957, in Long Branch, New Jersey. The love of his life for thirty years, Dana Hasler, her youngest daughter, Jennifer Hasler, and loving sisters Diane Cooper and Carol Fusco, were at his bedside. He is survived by Dana and her daughters Jennifer Hasler, Sarah Kemelgor and Lisa Vish, sister Diane, his nephews Peter, Christian, and Adam Chasey and sister Carol, husband David Lang and his niece Simone Woodmansee. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his older brother James Fusco. John made a significant impact on all those who knew him. He was intelligent, well read, well-traveled, loved all kinds of music and had a great sense of humor. John was always a yogi. He started following the teachings of Yogananda with his sister, Carol, at age 12 and practiced yoga and meditation throughout his life. James took John to Woodstock in 1969 at age 12. At age 15, John went to live on a commune with his brother James. It was known as ‘The Ranch’ in Elberon, New Jersey, a 30-acre farm on the Langer estate. The Ranch was part art colony, jazz studio, organic farm, race track, had a great library and even boasted a castle on the grounds. There were lots of hippies but John always claimed to be a Freak. Besides many horses, goats, ducks, chickens, dogs, cats and other domestic animals, The Ranch was filled with wildlife including foxes and owls. Living at The Ranch was John’s fondest memories of being in nature. Later, John and James lived as Haoles on a large vessel moored off the Big Island in Hawaii. He was an accomplished equestrian. John was a steeplechase rider, took equitation in Wales, and was assistant trainer for a large racehorse training facility in Lincroft, New Jersey. He studied farriery in Bozeman, Montana and became a specialist in equine hoof care. He had his own bustling farrier business and made specialized corrective horseshoes in New Jersey before relocating to California. John was one of the most talented people you could ever meet and enjoyed a multitude of artistic activities. He made art for many years. He started with iron as a blacksmith and worked for Febigers in New York City. He studied blacksmithing under Frank Turley in Santa Fe, New Mexico and apprenticed under Eric Claussen in Oakland, California. He still had a working forge at his home at the time of his death. John could always draw exquisitely and leaves a portfolio of figure drawings and botanical illustrations. John was a superb leather worker and made countless leather accessories. He excelled in lacing and knot tying. He mastered three dimensional stumpwork embroidery making life like pieces from nature including lots of bugs and butterflies. He became a coppersmith, and, again, made many beautiful bowls, platters and other pieces. Toward the end of his life, he taught himself jewelry making. When he wasn’t making art, John was gardening and loved working in his yard. He adored his pets, Charlie and Buttons, and they all napped together daily. All pets that came to visit liked John better that anyone else! Finally, John was a business man. He was President of Registry Network, Inc., a successful healthcare staffing company that has been in business for thirty-three years. Customers procured by John in the early 90’s remain customers today. His family and employees will miss him dearly. The family requests that any donations go to John’s favorite charity, Doctors Without Borders, for their humanitarian medical care in conflict zones.