John Robert Halasz, 55, of Rye, New York, a soccer star in his youth and later a successful businessman, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2024. He was surrounded by his wife, Dawn (Sciascia), and children, Joe, Julie, and Jim. John was born on February 28, 1969, to Andrew and Edith (Megay) Halasz in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, where he and his brothers, Andrew and Peter, lived before moving to Crystal Lake, Illinois where he attended high school and played soccer and ice hockey.He is a graduate of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University, where he set records as the goalkeeper on the Division I Men’s Soccer team and was involved in the student government. It was on this campus, in front of Richard’s Hall, where John met Dawn and the rest is history.
John then played on the Professional Men’s Soccer Team in The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club showcasing his passion and dedication to the sport. He continued his allegiance to the university throughout the years by attending the annual alumni soccer game with his former teammates. Following his soccer career, he then studied for and completed qualification exams to obtain finance-industry licensing from the FINRA Series.
John was the owner of Bricks & Timber and JR Halasz Capital Advisors, the CEO at US Home Aggregation, and part of other financial firms. His lifelong passion, outside of family and professional work, continued to be soccer. He reserved every Saturday afternoon for nurturing young talent as the Director of Westchester Flames Soccer Club and as a Coach and Age Group Coordinator for Rye Youth Soccer. Every Sunday morning, he played for the Men’s Soccer Sunday Stars, and he used any free time to cheer on Aston Villa FC and FC Bayern Munich. He coached children beyond the skills of the sport about teamwork, responsibility, sharing, discipline, and reliability.
John will be remembered for his outstanding drive to help others whether it was his children, other family members, friends, or neighbors. He supported his children in various sports and attended their tryouts and games from soccer to volleyball, basketball, tennis, football, wrestling, field hockey, and dance.
John will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He was a Renaissance man who excelled at any endeavor he pursued. These included woodworking (he made a desk for each of his children), barbecuing, making Sunday pancakes, gardening, golfing, skiing, and even performing “The Hat I Got For Christmas Is Too Beeg” at weekly family events. Topping the list of memories is when he would take the children to Carvel while their mom was at A Dance Studio in Larchmont, NY (shhh!).
John’s legacy of devotion to family, children, and sportsmanship will live on. The man being honored, who has 7,541 contacts saved in his phone, will be remembered for cheerfully saying, “Things always work out. ” Yes, he was funny too.
Arrangements are under the direction of Graham Funeral Home, Rye, New York. Viewing will be on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 3-6 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rye Youth Soccer in memory of John Halasz.
