Joseph Nunzio Mascis

Joseph Nunzio Mascis passed away on Tuesday, May 21st at 9:30 am. He was 87 when he passed. I was there when he took his last and final breath. We held his hand and told him to be in peace and then he went, peacefully, watching over us always.

I am a Master of words and there aren’t any words that exist in this universe to explain how exceptional of a human being my Grandfather, Joseph Nunzio Mascis was. I am still in shock that I am sitting here writing my Grandfather’s obituary, the man whom I thought would live forever and outlive all of us. He was heroic to me. Joseph grew up in Canada, from Italian descent. He was a lover of Frank Sinatra, The Yankees, his family, homemade Italian gravy, a good cigar and good bourbon-Woodford Reserve to be exact, amongst many other wonderful things. Joseph loved his family however, more than anything. He was the one who taught me how to make the family recipe for our Italian sauce when I was three years old. I was actually honored to make our home-made sauce for him not too long ago, with the lamb bones and sausage, as he taught me. I have the best memories of him going to my first Yankee game and then so many more after that; He would treat us to his favorite meals at Casa Dante in Jersey City and Lou Cas in Metuchen. I am so happy we got to go on one last vacation with him to Sedona, Arizona in December, which we will always remember. He loved having the guys over for card games, his best friend Bob Baker especially; He would call me up, with excitement in his voice, to order pizza from Frank’s and have his friends over.

Some of my fondest memories with my Grandfather Joseph is of him always dancing with me when I was young, spinning me around, with the smell of his cologne and the sound of Frank Sinatra in the background. Grandpa Joe was like a second Father to me, my hero and he always will be my hero. He was a Korean War Veteran, on the front lines, a medic and savior to all that knew him. He was sentimental too and the sweetest man I know, keeping cards we wrote him from years and years ago. Joseph Mascis would have given the shirt off his back to anyone in need, especially his family. He was a wonderful Father to Frank Mascis, Laura Mascis and Jeana Miliano. Joseph was a fantastic Grandfather, one you only hear about in movies, to his grandchildren Tara and Joey. Joseph was an amazing brother to Richard Mascis as well. I will always cherish the memories I had with Grandpa Joe and will only think of him, with happiness in my soul. Whenever I smell the tobacco from a cigar, sauce cooking on the stove and the sound of Sinatra resonating in the room, I will always think of you Grandpa Joe, my hero.

We will keep your memory alive always. Whenever I hear Ol’ Blue Eyes (Sinatra) saying: “When somebody loves you it’s no good unless he loves you, all the way. Happy to be near you when you need someone to cheer you, all the way..” I will think of you Grandpa Joe and have your spirit and soul live on in my children and their children’s children, for all of time. Until we meet again, we love you forever and honor you for always. May you rest in peace.

*Written by his Granddaughter, Tara Miliano.