John Vito Biondo Obituary

John Vito Biondo, Jr. was born July 18, 1957, in the City of San Fernando, the son of Brooklyn-born John Sr. and Helen (Glynn) Biondo. John passed away on March 4, 2025, after a years-long illness followed by incurable complications. His loving family, wife Justeen, sister Adriene, and sister-in-law Marty cared for him throughout his ordeal. He had love and support from all of his family and dear friends.

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John grew up in the foothills of Sunland-Tujunga where he attended Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Mt. Gleason Jr. High, and Verdugo Hills High School. He went on to study engineering at Los Angeles Valley College and Cal State Northridge.

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A natural entrepreneur and inventor from an early age, he worked repairing televisions as a teenager, and drove the delivery truck for the local Record-Ledger newspaper. Largely self-taught, John could often be spotted at the local coffee shop, studying physics and engineering books and sipping endless cups of coffee.

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John began his career creating special effects for film and television in the early 1980s at Midocean Motion Pictures in Hollywood but soon ventured out on his own. In 1983, he started Icon R & D, Inc. with his future brother-in-law, John Eng, whom he had met at Midocean. Icon developed their own proprietary motion-control camera system, and created special effects/animation for commercials, motion pictures, and special venues such as IMAX and Showscan.

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Next, John took his expertise in effects and founded Electric Filmworks, then co-founded Photo Vend International, where he developed a photo booth that added special effects backgrounds to Polaroid photos.

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John never worked on projects that he wasn't interested in, and his interests were eclectic, from effects equipment for film and television to bioengineering equipment to household products. He invented gadgets for amusement parks and fine artists, sold novelty photo booths in partnership with Polaroid, and helped create the portable Softub and matching sauna.

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A creative problem-solver, John patented numerous inventions including a hand-held device for zapping new DNA into bacteria for biology research. Other inventions he worked on include herbal vaporizers, an anti-theft device for shopping carts and an innovative light dimmer.

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A humble but accomplished man, John earned his private pilot's license, sailed in Mexico, and designed and built interactive attractions for museums and amusement parks around the world. The world of computer generated imagery also benefitted by his innovative design/build for USC of a high-tech geodesic Light Stage used to replicate specific lighting settings during film production that is still in use today.

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John also worked with fine artist Philip Vaughn on his neon sculptures. Silicon Robotics, John's most recent company, worked with high-end audiophile company Audeze inventing robotic machines to assist in their manufacturing process.

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In addition to his engineering work, John was a real Renaissance man with a wide variety of interests. He enjoyed music and opera, played the piano, violin, and guitar. He appreciated fine wine and food, and tried his hand at making beer. John was also an avid chess player, movie watcher, and read science fiction as well as technical books. On any given day, you might find him troubleshooting a project, hiking in the hills of Los Angeles, or sketching ideas on paper napkins in a coffee shop.

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In 1988, John married his Verdugo High classmate Justeen Ward. True partners and soulmates, they shared 37 years of wonderful adventures, international travel, and an active social life filled with family and friends.

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John had the gift of intimacy. He was an engaging conversationalist and made lifelong friendships wherever he went. Anyone who spent time with him one-on-one shared a unique connection with him and likely felt they had become the best of friends.

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Accomplished on many levels, John was at his best when he was helping people, something he was always happy to do. Those of us who loved him know that there's practically nothing he couldn't do, and no end to the ways he could make us laugh. John will be greatly missed by the many people who loved him... the truly irreplaceable John Biondo.

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John is survived by his wife Justeen Ward, her sister Marty Ward, his sister Adriene Biondo and her husband John Eng; his half-sister Laura Weiser and her husband Lyle, his half-brother Richie Ziccardi and his wife Adrienne, his half-brother John Ziccardi and his wife Marina, his cousins Evelyn and Andrew Chote, and his father-in-law Eugene Ward.