Hello Johnny, I'm just stopping by to tell you I think of you everyday and I miss you.
love
didi

Peter:
There are no words to express my gratitude for your kind words on Johnny’s behalf. I intentionally wrote the article “unsung hero” before Johnny left us because I wanted him to know the impact he had on others and racing- People started contacting him from all over - It made him so happy! If you’d like to speak with me (any friend of Johnny’s is a friend of mine- Please call me- 3052160398-

Dearest Brother,
I long for the chance to speak with you again and until that moment arrives, I share my thoughts in print with you and with all who knew you and loved you.

My thoughts drifted to the time of your youth when you were starting your life as a blacksmith- and I found this quote that is so true….
“You cannot dream yourself into a great blacksmith”

All that you were on earth did not come easy and I am in awe when I think of how hard you worked to be the very best Blacksmith in NY.
Love
Your sister Maria Victoria

Johnny,
Three years ago, you passed over to the other side, but you are forever in my heart.

DD

My dearest brother, A day does not go by that I don’t think of you.Can you hear my prayers?
They are for you, Johnny. I hope wherever you maybe, you know that I carry your heart in my heart and I will until we meet again. Your little sister DD

I can’t believe that It’s been 2 years since I was last with you Mr John. I don’t think that there’s ever a day that goes by without you in my thoughts. Every time I hear the ring of the anvil with every swing of my hammer you’re always right there to remind me that we’re Blacksmith’s and Baker’s cut from the same cloth. I know that you’ve finally found the peace that you couldn’t find on this side. Rest well my Uncle, my teacher, my Brother, my Friend. You are so missed by all of us, this world is a smaller place without you. I know that I’ll see you again, just not today.

So sorry to hear about Johnny’s passing. I thought about him often during the last 50 years and wondered how his life was going. Johnny will always have a special place in my heart. I wish we got to way good bye.  Rest In Peace my dear friend. 
Love, Lynne

My Dearest Brother, It's a year today that you have moved over to the other side of life. I miss you. I carry you in my heart. When I am sad, I remember your funny sayings and when I am afraid, I look within and find you.

You walk beside me and I know you are looking over me.

Love,
DeDe

You are always in my heart, dear brother. I miss you so.

I last talked to John in 1988 when I got back from farrier school , he knew
my father who was a Veternarian from Roosevelt.
He gave me a lot of great advice. He was one tough MFER he had my respect.

Happy Birthday, Johnny. My only wish is that you are with mom, dad, vinnie, and nonno, sitting around a table and talking about old times, over a plate of pasta. I love you. Maria

Dear God, please grant my Uncle Johnny the peace that only you can give him that he so desperately needed. In life he could be so difficult to live with, and now that he’s gone to be with you. It’s so difficult to be without him. Every time my hammer rings on my anvil, it’s a reminder of what you taught me. Followed by a flood of memories, both good and bad. It makes me love and miss my Uncle Johnny so much more! Only the knowing he’s finally at peace with You, gives me the will to hit that anvil again, and to work a piece of steel into something with a purpose, by using the gift you gave me so long ago. When I was young, I sat and watched, you work and learned. Now it’s your turn to sit and watch me work. By putting to use what I learned from you. I’ll never stop missing you, or thanking you my Uncle. It was you who made me into a Blacksmith, and with that you became a Brother. Only we Smith’s know that feel of the hammer ringing out the anvil that I pray you can still hear. This is not goodbye, it’s a see ya later Johnny. There’s still plenty of horses needin to be shod. And bread ready to go into the oven.

My dearest Maria Victoria - I am so very sad to hear of your brother's passing. You and Orlando are in my heart, thoughts and prayers. May his memory be a blessing. Love, Jaki

Rest in eternal peace John, may the Lord embrace your family until you meet again ❤️

It's a month that you have left us, Johnny and we miss you.
Love, your sister Maria Victoria and Orlando

wondered what happened to johnny. rip  sid

Maria, I did not know your brother but I know you, and know how much you loved your brother. May GOD grant peace during these difficult moments. My prayers are with you and your family. Barb Valentin

On November 3, 2018, there will be a memorial cremation service at the McGilley & George Funeral Home in Belton, MO at 3:00pm. Family and friends will surround Johnny and show their love and friendship as they had during his life on earth and bid him one last farewell. Repose in peace, my dearest brother. Love, Maria Victoria

lot of great memories with john my dad rocky and my brother andy knew him as well just a great soul great man great freind and one of the best blacksmith thank you for the great memories john always loved talking with you while you were shoeing my horse when i worked for rejean god speed my freind r i p our sincere condolences from the toscano family

santini , was a stalwart of the roosevelt backstrectch.i was living off a claimer whose feet were breaking away .he told me,bring in the shop, he toiled on his feet,advised soak them in kerosine,, come back nextweek and in 3 weeks we will be in the winners circle!! damn if he didnt healthoseaching feet!!!!''SANTINI'' was a great friend, and he toiled each day until post time with passion for his craft,,

RIP Johnny

Ti ricordiamo tutti con grande affetto ma soprattutto io e Maurizio quando 24 anni fa siamo venuti in viaggio di nozze in Florida e tu ci hai accolto e guidato per tutto il soggiorno in modo molto disponibile e protettivo. Ricordo ancora le risate che ci hai fatto fare !!!! Anche mamma e nonna stanno soffrendo molto per la tua morte. Sappi che non ti dimenticheremo mai e rimarrai sempre un pezzo di noi. Riposa in pace. Roberta, Maurizio, Alessandro, Andrea, Josephine e zia Anna Maria.

I didn’t know you but I know your sister Maria. She loves you very much. I can tell you were a special person. May your soul Rest In Peace now. Sending a lot of love to Maria and my condolences to her and to the family.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
- Psalm 23:4.

May our Lord bless and comfort you and your family during this time of grief. Please accept my sincere condolences.

John was my cousin, the son of my Aunt Rose and Uncle Tom. Rose and Tom had four children, Bianca, Vincenza, John, and Maria Victoria. With John's passing, there are two left , the oldest, Bianca, and the youngest, Maria Victoria. We grew up only a few miles apart on Long Island, NY. I had the most contact with the two oldest of the Santoro children, Bianca and Vincenza (Vinnie). I was off to college while Johnny was still in elementary school, so I never really knew him well. Since then, I have been fortunate to establish contact with his younger sister, Maria Victoria, and it is from her that I learned about John's life. His life was not an easy one, but the one thing that really stood out was his love for animals. This led him to his career as a farrier and his many years at the Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island. He is regarded as the best there was in his career. Although he struggled with many personal problems through his life, I choose to remember him for that love. God bless you, Johnnie, and I hope you get to spend eternity with the animals you loved so much.

Johnny was a dear friend when I had my racing stable back in the late 80s thru the 90s out at Roosevelt and Yonkers Raceways.
He was also my "gifted" blacksmith.
Johnny was talented and had a great heart. He lived his craft, worked hard and helped many.
HE HELPED ME.
I will miss this dear soul. I haven't seen him in over 25 years, but some people leave a lasting impression on your heart and in your soul.
Rest Johnny.
Rest. Until next time......

It was an honor to be part of Johnny’s care. He was funny and feisty while being so kind. He loved to talk about his younger years in New York as a Ferrier and of course, he was so very proud of his large Italian family. Sharing his memories always made his eyes twinkle. I know that in the last few months Mona provided him so much love and comfort.  What a wonderful gift she was and what a wonderful gift he was to all who had to privilege of knowing him.  I am grateful for the opportunity to have known such a wonderful man. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

a good hearted fella , RIP Johnny

It was both a pleasure and privilege to be a part of Johnny's care while at Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute. He was always so kind and funny, he will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this time.

How do I find the words? Johnny, my Uncle, my friend, my brother, and my teacher. Even my enemy sometimes but even when we fought we still loved each other. You put me on a path with a piece of steel, a red hot fire, and with hammer and anvil I learned how to turn it into a tool, or a horseshoe sometimes the hammered out leaf for a rose of iron. You showed me what hard work was and that stayed with me all of my life since. Most of all you gave me the knowledge to turned it into skill. I’ll never be able to repay you for that. All I can do is say thank you for your gift to me. I hope and pray that you can still hear the ring of my anvil as I wear out another hammer, but my anvil stays solid and still rings for you to hear. I don’t have the words to express what I feel? But you can see it in the work I’ve done because of this gift you shared with me. My hands may be getting tired, but in my mind and my heart still burns a forge of love and respect. Peace be your journey.

LIVE,LAUGH AMD SING "ITS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT. HE IS NOW SHOEING THE HORES FOR GODS LEGENDS OF ANGELS. [ WITH A SIDE BET ON THE SIDE]WE LOVE YOU AND WILL SEE YOU AGAN IN ETERNITY.
JOHN FRANKLIN SANTORO HIS LOVE OF HIS DOGS AND HOW THEY LOVED HIM WAS THAT HE TRULEY COMMUNICATED WITH THEM. AND THEY WERE HIS FAMILY. ANY ONE WANTING TO DO ANY DONATIONS IN HIS NAME ,CONSIDER DONATING TO AGENCIES AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY. ESPECIALLY DOGS AND RACE HORSES.
His loving Sister Bianca Santoro-Wall and her family.

I seek to make sense of this absurd, illogical, sad but beautiful world. It was beautiful because my brother made me feel special. He gave me strength. Johnny will live in the hearts of all who had the fortune to have known him.
Your loving sister, Maria