John Cervini – Hillsdale College Alumnus

John Cervini is the founder of Aphria, a cannabis company. He and his friend Cole Cacciavillani created it after leaving their family’s greenhouse business growing peppers and tomatoes.

Cacciavillani and Cervini’s extensive food production expertise led them to develop expertise in pesticide management and plant health. This insight enables Aphria to avoid banned pesticides while guaranteeing the quality of its products.

Early Life and Education

John was born October 28th 1922 in Ripi, Italy to Natale and Annunziate Cervini. During WWII he joined the US Army as a tank gunner under General Patton. Subsequently he moved with his mother and sister to New York City, where he met Nancy Ferranti.

After returning to America in 1949, John and Nancy tied the knot. They had two children: John Jr. of Hillsdale (Susan) and Linda Cervini of New Hyde Park.

John was passionate about his Catholic faith and lived it out daily. He and his wife had been longtime members of the Church of St. Anne in Garden City, attending mass almost daily. Additionally, John had a deep affection for his American Legion membership and was always active within his community.

Professional Career

John Cervini is a co-founder of Aphria, an Ontario marijuana company that has grown from an idea to an operational greenhouse. However, his recent stock price has lagged behind that of his peers and two deals for foreign assets have raised questions about Aphria’s governance practices.

She spent 14 years serving on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, helping lawyers and judges with depression and other mental health problems. Her work was immensely rewarding and she found fulfillment in supporting those around her who needed support. Additionally, she volunteered at West Suburban PADS Shelter in Oak Park and chaired Cook County’s Lawyers’ Assistance Program during that time.

Achievements and Honors

Hillsdale College’s Homecoming weekend was a resounding success, thanks to the hard work and efforts of many – especially alumni liaison John Cervini. The festivities kicked off with an elegant dinner Friday night, followed by various activities throughout the weekend.

One of the most significant events was the launch of a new alumni magazine and return of the esteemed alumni award naming ceremony. It was an honor for many alumni to return home and enjoy their alma mater just as much as the next generation of students do.

The best part of all was that most of these activities were free and everyone who attended had a wonderful time. What truly stood out, however, were all of those smiles on everyone’s faces – regardless of age or profession! It truly felt like everyone had an enjoyable and unique experience together.

Personal Life

John Cervini was a loving husband, father, grandfather and devout Christian. He spoke passionately of his faith but lived it by example through his deeds.

He and his wife Nancy were best friends and partners, setting an example for their children and grandchildren to follow. He was a proud veteran of the US Army who served as gunner in a tank under General Patton’s Third Army during WWII.

After retiring from his career in the military, he founded J & B Construction in Garden City, New York. Additionally, he had an entrepreneurial venture into cannabis cultivation; at one time owning a stake worth more than $1 billion CAD.

Net Worth

John Cervini was one of the co-founders of Aphria in Leamington, Ontario – one of the first publicly traded marijuana growers. After leaving his family’s greenhouse business selling tomatoes and peppers, he started growing cannabis with a friend.

He founded Aphra with Cole Cacciavillani, who had no prior experience growing marijuana. Over five years, they’ve built Aphra from a small operation to one of Canada’s most successful cannabis businesses.

Bruce Linton is another co-founder of Aphria and the CEO of Canopy Growth, the world’s largest cannabis producer. With a net worth estimated to be at least $127.6 million based on 2.5 million shares of Canopy Growth Corporation, Linton enjoys an enviable position within the industry.