Mourners remember George and Theresa Canni

As friends and family of George Canni and his wife, Theresa Maniaci-Canni, gathered for their funeral, scheduled for Saturday, they recalled the couple's love of the freedom afforded by skimming across the wavetops in their 40-foot Hustler speedboat and rolling down the blacktop on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

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"They enjoyed their life to the fullest," Theresa's sister, Jo Ann Freeman of Indialantic, Fla., said of the couple killed Sunday night when their boat crashed into a marsh island off Seaford. A third person on the boat, Joseph Sugamele, 50, of Massapequa, also died. "They spent their time boating, biking and entertaining their friends at their home" in Copiague.

Those close to the couple talk of their generosity. "No matter what time and what you needed, they were there for you," longtime friend Jim Feynman said.

George, who owned an automotive business, met Theresa about 15 years ago when she did his nails at a Rockville Centre salon. Their love of the water created an instant bond, recalled her mother, Ann Maniaci-Miller of Merrick. Although George had already owned boats for about 20 years, the sport was new to Theresa. But "she absolutely loved it," her mother said. She felt the same way about climbing on behind George on his Harley Road King.

George, 65, was born in Brooklyn and raised in Little Neck, Queens, where he graduated from Bayside High School. Later he lived in Douglaston, Massapequa and then Copiague for about 15 years. He started A1 Transmission in Baldwin 40 years ago.

Theresa, 46, lived in Centereach before her family moved to Merrick, where she graduated from Calhoun High School. She took classes at Nassau Community College. She worked at several salons before marrying George six years ago. "She loved animals," her mother said, and helped dog breeders with grooming as a hobby.

Joe Logiudice, who heads Hustler Powerboats in Calverton and had been friends with George for 40 years, said "George and Theresa really loved the water. When we built their boat, Theresa would come out and pick out colors for the interior and George would come out and pick out colors for the outside."

Every year for the large Miami boat show, Logiudice said, "he would take off from work and come down to Miami for like 10 days and he would take people out for demo rides and work the booth with me. It's hard to find that kind of friend. He brought out the best in other people."

While the Cannis loved their high-performance boat and powerful Harley, relatives and friends said they weren't reckless speeders. "He was very cautious and knowledgeable about what he did," said a sister, Martina Koenig of Seaford. "That's why none of us can understand what happened" Sunday night.

In addition to her mother and sister, Theresa is survived by an aunt, Madeline Ross of Maspeth, Queens, and an uncle, Angelo LaMotto of Massapequa.

In addition to Koenig, George is survived by two sons, Todd of Washington, D.C., and George of Orange Park, Fla.; two sisters, Linda Johnston of Fort Myers, Fla., and Patricia Palmer of Marmora, N.J.; and two grandchildren.

A wake is scheduled for Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Massapequa Funeral Home, 4980 Merrick Rd., Massapequa Park. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Barnabas Church in Bellmore, with burial at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

The family asks that donations be made to the North Shore Animal League, where a fund has been set up in the couple's name.

PHOTOS: Powerboat crashes off Wantagh