John Francis Codori died from COVID-19 in Philadelphia on 24 April 2020. He was born in Philadelphia on July 25, 1932, the sixth and youngest child of Dr. Laurence Murray Codori, Sr., a Baltimore native, and his wife, Marie Agnes Silk. He was reared in Philadelphia in the Irish neighborhood known as “Swampooldle,” and was educated in the Catholic School system. He attended grade school at St. Columba’s, across the street from his home on Lehigh Avenue, and graduated from Roman Catholic Boys High School in 1950, where he was a member of the Track Team and ran Cross Country. After graduation, he worked at the Nabisco Company for two years and then General Motors for 43 years. He was employed in the processing and packaging department and was responsible for assembling automotive part orders for shipment.
At a young age John developed a love of all sports, especially Philadelphia baseball. The old Connie Mack Stadium was only four blocks from his home. He was so engrossed with the Phillies that in eighth grade he was caught making Box Scores Cards during class. The nun said to John: “If you had been born closer to the Academy of Music rather than the ball park you might be a musical virtuoso” (She had him make 10 more score cards for the convent). John was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, Father Joseph C. Tomko Assembly #934 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and for many years attended retreats with The Men of Malvern.
John’s hobbies included reading books, the National Geographic, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. He kept up with regional college football, especially Villanova, and maintained scrapbooks of all Philadelphia sports teams, and enjoyed watching sports on TV. Wednesday nights were dedicated to playing Black Jack, and John was an eager participant in all his assisted living home’s monthly outings and other group activities.
Though he was born and raised in Philadelphia, John’s family roots run deep in Baltimore. His French-immigrant great-grandfather, Jacques Cordary (Americanized to Jacob Codori), did business as Jacob Codori & Son building row homes. John’s grandfather, John Anthony Codori, son of Jacob married Melvina Blanche Moran, who was the daughter of Richard Thomas Moran, a Chesapeake Bay steamboat engineer, and his wife Alice Amelia McNeir. When he died in 1919, his obituary in The Sun named him “the oldest marine engineer in Baltimore.” To round out the Mr. Codori’s Baltimore connections, great-grandfather Moran’s wife, Alice Amelia McNeir, is believed to be a descendant of John McNeir who defended Baltimore in the War of 1812 as part of Lt. Col. Kennedy Long’s 27th Regiment of the Maryland Militia.
The Codori family history is also closely intertwined with more recent American military history. Before moving to Baltimore in the 1870's, the Codori family was well-established in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Nicolas (Nicholas), Mr. Codori’s 3x great uncle, became a prominent butcher who owned a farm on the east side of Emmitsburg Road. During the Battle of Gettysburg, soldiers fought heavily on the Codori farm on July 2, 1863. On July 3, the Codori farm was at the center of Pickett’s Charge, and an estimated 325 Confederate soldiers were buried there. The property is now part of the Gettysburg National Military Park, and the Codori House is home to park rangers. Nicholas Codori’s home on York Street in downtown Gettysburg is on the National Register of Historic Places. Nicholas Codori donated the land for St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Gettysburg. An annual Codori family reunion brings together descendants from across the country, an event that, in his later years, Mr. Codori anticipated with excitement. In 2019, he was one of the oldest Codori attendees; beat out only by his brother, Laurence, his Irish twin, who survives him.
Although John Codori was a life-long bachelor, he is proud to have 13 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Nancy Codori, Margaret Codori Kozakowski Yowell, Blanche Codori Murphy, Marie Codori Arneodau, and by great-nephew Christopher Murphy. He is survived by his brother Laurence Murray Codori, Jr. (Helen née Bucci) of Upper Marlboro, MD and by his nieces and nephews Dr. Edward Kozakowski (Marjie née Robinson) of Ocean City, NJ, Blanche Murphy Lenard (Eugene) of Aston, PA, Nanette Murphy Beckner of Creve Coeur, MO, John Murphy of Los Angeles, John Kozakowski (Patricia née McCullough) of Kirkwood, PA, Dr. Ann Marie Codori (George Fisk) of Baltimore, Laurence Kozakowski (Anne Marie née Hoffman) of Philadelphia, Dr. Nancy Codori (Richard Boardman) of Baltimore, Paul Murphy (Lisa née Wilson) of Philadelphia, René Arneodau of St. Raphael, France, Margaret Codori of Baltimore, Michele Codori (Susan Spence) of Bowley’s Quarters, MD, and Jeanne Codori-Hurff (Christopher) of Winchester, MA. He is also survived by 20 great-nieces and -nephews, and 22 great-great nieces and -nephews.
Because of the need for physical distancing, the funeral is limited to ten members of the immediate family. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA on Wednesday, April 29 at 2PM.
Condolences may be sent to John Fluehr and Sons at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
