OLEAN - Philip Marquand Masi of 224 N. Sixth St., Olean, passed away Monday (Dec. 3, 2012) at the Cuba Memorial Hospital.
Born Jan. 30, 1917, in Washington, D.C., he was a son of the late Joseph W. and Mabel Carpenter Masi. On Sept. 20, 1941, in Washington, D.C., he married the former Rose T. Abbott, who passed away Dec. 28, 2002.
He was a graduate of Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Va., and Columbia Technical Institute, Arlington, and attended Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Masi started his career as a draftsman of the Department of the Navy and worked as a customer representative for Hechinger Co. in Washington.
He was a veteran of World War II, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 with the 36th Fighter Control Squadron (The Flying Tigers) as a communications specialist in the China-Burma-India Theater. He received a Good Conduct Medal, an American Theater Ribbon, an Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, an American Victory Ribbon and two Battle Stars.
He had resided in Olean since 1946, when he was hired by Weston's Lumber Co. in Olean. He built or contributed to many fine carpentry projects in the area, including the tables in the study area of St. Bonaventure University's Friedsam Memorial Library, the bar at the former Castle Restaurant and the interiors of other historic Olean businesses. He joined Dresser Industries (Clark Bros.) in 1948 and worked there for 32 years, starting as a pattern maker and retiring in 1980 as quality control manager of the foundry. He owned the Enchanted Mountain Golf Range in Allegany from 1962 to 1967.
He was a member of St. Mary of the Angels Church. He was a charter member of the Optimist Club as well as a member of the AARP and the Dresser Clark Office Retirees, where he originated their highway cleanup crew. He was a former member of the St. Bonaventure Golf Course, Dresser Golf League, Geritol Golf League and Pulaski Club; a volunteer at the Olean Public Library; and a founding board member of the Olean Area Federal Credit Union (formerly the Dresser Clark Employees Credit Union). He was also an expert wood-worker, carpenter and furniture maker.
Surviving are his daughters, Susan (Carl) Widmer of Naples; Karen (Robert) Utecht of Cincinnati; Kathleen (Michael) Kosciol of Spencerport and Francine Masi Gabler of Olean; eight grandchildren, Matthew (Laure) Utecht of Greenville, S.C.; Alexander (Allison) Utecht of Malvern, Pa.; John (Tracy) Widmer of Franklinville, N.J.; Erica (Jason) Meier of Ridgefield, Conn.; Michael (Diana) Kosciol of Staten Island, Joseph Kosciol of Olean, Philip (Jody) Gabler of Ithaca and William Gabler of Washington, D.C.; 17 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his brother, Joseph F. Masi; and two sisters, Miriam M. Scull and Elizabeth J. Masi.
The family will receive friends Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Guenther Funeral Home Inc., 1303 E. State St., Olean. Friends are invited to a Service of the Word at 2 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 8, 2012) in the St. Mary of the Angels Church. Father Gregory Dobson, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany.
Memorials may be made to the Olean Public Library; Cuba Memorial Hospital Palliative Care; or the , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.