It is with profound grief we share the news of the peaceful/sudden departure of John Mark Ambielli who left us on Wednesday August 26, 2026, in his home at the age of 89.

John left us after living a full and meaningful life shared with his faithful companion Little Bit. Everyone knew John and Little Bit as they rode around in his golf cart in their little community of friends in Bluewater Bay on Smith Mountain Lake.

John embodied the spirit of resourcefulness. He could always find a use for common items — whether through recycling, reusing, or repurposing, he had a gift for getting the most out of ordinary materials. Those who knew him remember it as a trait he took quiet pride in, one that defined his character. He found joy in the smallest things and in the most unexpected places.

Though he lived a modest life, his achievements were anything but small. Through sheer self-determination, he became what many would come to know him as: a master tiler. He put that skill to work serving the greater Smith Mountain Lake community, as well as on far-reaching projects — including the National D-Day Memorial.

John was always eager to pass these skills on to those patient and open-minded enough to learn them. He believed that knowledge was meant to be shared, not kept, and he took genuine satisfaction in watching others grow into their own abilities. His legacy is one of determination through hard work — but also one of generosity, patience, and quiet mentorship.

Everyone he touched could look to him as a shining example of what's possible with enough effort and ingenuity. He showed, more through action than words, that a life well-lived isn't measured by what you accumulate, but by what you build, what you fix, and what you pass on to others. In this way, a piece of John lives on in every project he touched and every person he taught.

John will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

He will be laid to rest at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Dublin, Va