Christian L Mazzola
September 19, 1939 - August 31, 2025
Doral, Florida - Christian passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025, at age 85, in Hudson, MA with his family by his side.
Born September 19, 1939, in Auburn, NY to L. Charles Mazzola and Agnes Larsen Mazzola, Christian is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan Gallas Mazzola, his son, Colin Larsen Mazzola (Kim), Bolton, MA, and his granddaughter, Eva Grace Mazzola, Dublin, Ireland. He was predeceased in 1976 by Donna Campbell Mazzola, his first wife. Christian leaves behind his brother, Lars C. Mazzola (Jane), Geneseo, NY, his sister, Joy Mazzola Bidlack (Jerry), East Aurora, NY, his nephew James Ellis (Erin), Tujunga, CA, and his niece Jill Ellis Hahn (Jeffrey), Williamsville, NY.
Looking for a place to picnic, his parents and his grandmother found a spot on a farm in Springwater, NY, to enjoy the view of the valley and the tip of Hemlock Lake. In 1935, they purchased the property and when Christian was 12, the family moved to the farm. Christian was enamored with the barns, fields, ponds, and the wooded hill. He developed a love of mowing the trails, tinkering in the barn, working on projects and when he was older, buying tractors. His love of the family farm pulled Christian and Susan to visit every year and to eventually spend summers there.
Christian graduated from Wayland High School in 1957. He had a lifelong love of music going to music lessons at The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY (French horn) and during high school summers, he went to Tally-Ho Music Camp in Honeoye, NY. Christian graduated Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, in 1961 with a BA in Liberal Arts. The experiences, friendships and teachers Christian had at Hamilton were ones he cherished throughout his life. He was a member of ELS (Emerson Literary Society) serving as House Manager. He enjoyed singing and was a member of the Hamilton Choir and the Buffers, an a cappella group. After college, Christian served his country in the U.S. Army Reserve for four years.
Christian was grateful for his time at Hamilton College, for the education he received, and the values learned and wanted to encourage students from rural areas to have the opportunity to attend Hamilton. With this goal in mind, Christian established The Mazzola Family Fund at Hamilton College, a scholarship for graduates within the farming communities around his beloved farm in Springwater, NY.
His career began at Mohawk Airlines in Utica, NY after which he joined Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, NJ for 15 years. After positions at several medical device companies, in 1993 Christian joined Corvita, as managing director in their Brussels, Belgium office and then returned to their Miami headquarters to manage the company's purchase by Pfizer. Semi-retired, Christian then joined the boards of two medical device start-ups.
His community interests began when Christian served on the West Dade Federation of Homeowner Associations formed to assist their local community, then an unincorporated part of Miami-Dade County. He was then involved in the development of the incorporation of the City of Doral and went on to serve on the City's Audit Board and their Charter Review Committee. Living near the Miami International Airport, Christian joined the Miami International Airport's Noise Abatement Task Force and served on their Board to develop strategies for the reduction of noise impacts associated with aircraft operations.
Christian found golf later in life and seeking to golf with like-minded players (enjoy the comradery and the game, no betting), he started a group called the 'Dewsweepers' who played together for almost 20 years. Asked to join Tai Chi classes, Christian enjoyed them and felt the benefits so important, he encouraged other 'Dewsweepers' to join him which several did. Between the golf, Tai Chi, and community involvement, Christian formed close friendships that he sincerely appreciated.
Christian was an active member of Riviera Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Miami where he served on Riviera's Session, the Pastor Nominating Committee, and on the Investment Committee.
Christian will be remembered as a gentleman who was kind and gracious, who had integrity and a positive attitude; a person who naturally helped and mentored others. He exhibited these qualities throughout his life. They were the essence of who Christian was and these qualities never left him, even through the later years, months and weeks of his eight-year journey with Alzheimer's disease.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 11, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at the Springwater United Methodist Church, 8001 S. Main Street, Springwater, NY 14560. A reception will be held at the Mazzola home immediately following the service.
A second memorial service will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025, 2:00 p.m. at Riviera Presbyterian Church, 5275 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33143. A reception will be held in the church's Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, join us in making an online donation in Christian's name to the
Alzheimer's Association where a Tribute page has been established. Click here to donate to
Alzheimer's Association in Christian's name.
Published by the Miami Herald from Sep. 24 to Oct. 4, 2025.