Vernon Remembering Car Enthusiast, Station Owner 'Famous Johnnie'

VERNON, CT — A man who was a colorful and respected member of the Vernon business community for many years has died.

John August Rossini, 83, a resident of East Windsor who owned Johnny's Mobil in the Rockville section of Vernon, died on July 24, according to his obituary from Carmon Family Funeral Homes.

In the obituary, family members called him "one of the coolest guys in the world."

Rossini was predeceased by his wife, of 56 years, Carol, in February 2022. She was his business and travel partner for many years.

He was born on July 13,1942 in Hartford, along with his twin brother, James. Family members joked that their Italian immigrant parents, August and Adele made them become altar boys at their Catholic so they behaved on Sundays.

Rossini became interested in engines and cars "while hanging out at gas stations" and it led to a "lifelong passion in the automotive world," which led to drag races on the Berlin Turnpike as "Big Bad John."

Rossini spent two years in the U.S. Army, and after his discharge be began accumulating awards at the CT Dragway (with Carol taking pictures).

After marrying in 1966, the couple started a family and purchased their first and only home in 1968 in East Windsor. Rossini was the service manager at Fitzgerald/Seraphin Ford in Vernon with he and Carol serving as foster parents for newborn infants.

In 1979, Johnnie purchased the service station in Rockville and aptly named it "Johnnie's Mobil."

It turned him into "a well-loved, local personality."

Eventually, the station was bestowed the monicker "The Famous Johnnie’s."

"The station was known for taking care of its customers," Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. "When I was a police officer, Johnnie's was also known as THE towing company. It was a top-notch company."

Johnnie’s 1979 Ford Bronco XLT was recognized all over. Johnnie drag raced, attended car shows and drove it in local parades up until the summer of 2025.

In 2008, the "Famous Johnnie’s" was sold and John and Carol's retirement was spent traveling in their RV for months around the county, including Alaska.

Calling hours are scheduled for Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Carmon Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., in Windsor. Calling hours are also scheduled for 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, followed by a memorial service.

See his full obituary here.