Lawrence A. Musci

Lawrence Musci Obituary

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Lawrence (Larry) Alfred Musci, 93, of Naples, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024, after a gradual and general decline in health.

Larry was born at home in the Bronx, New York, to Carmela and Paul Musci, on May 16, 1931. He was a Depression baby and a much-welcomed joy to his parents. He was a model big brother to his sisters, Mattia and Rosalie, who came along nine and 13 years later.

Larry attended PS 83 in the Bronx for grammar school, meeting his dearest lifelong friends, Tommy DeLuca and Henry (Hank) Cattaneo, his eventual business partner. Larry loved football and played at Christopher Columbus High School and later at NYU. He transferred to Iona College, graduating in 1954 with a BS in Accounting. He served in the U.S. Army with an honorable discharge in 1955.

Larry met his future wife, Joan D'Angelo, the beautiful cousin of his buddies, when they were both 16 years old. They married right after college and started their family of five kids, John, Ellen, Paul, Andrew, and Lawrence Jr. The family moved around a bit before settling in Ridgewood, New Jersey in 1968. In 1991, Larry and Joan moved to Naples full time, enjoying the sunshine, warmth, and beauty of Southwest Florida. Joan passed away in 2010 after 58 years of marriage. Larry went on to marry Tania Espinosa in 2016, who was a loving wife, caring for him and making his final years comfortable and cheerful.

Larry's career included accounting and sales positions with the National Cash Register (NCR) company, Olsten Temporary Services, and General Packaging, all in the New York metro area. In 1972, he and Hank bought a sound engineering company, Altel Sound Systems, which provided a secure future for the family and ultimately for the next generation, when Andrew Musci and Stefan Cattaneo bought their dads' business.

Bowling alleys became a part of Larry's portfolio with a fortuitous partnership with Pat Ciniello and Hank in Southwest Florida. Pat's wizardry in bowling and then in owning and operating successful alleys further made Larry's future secure for him and the generations to follow. His passion for golf was satisfied playing at The Strand in Naples with good buddies. He loved hunting, bagging his first buck at 16, and later took numerous trips to the West to go after bigger game. Larry was an avid and accomplished skier, skiing into his 80s (when he could finally ski for free!) in Vermont, Colorado, Switzerland, and Italy, and he also enjoyed motorcycles, biking, and boating and water sports.

Larry raised his children to be athletic, outgoing and friendly, and to work hard at school and careers. He was proud of all of us and took immense delight in his grandchildren as they came along. He is survived by his wife, Tania, his sisters Mattia (Tom) and Rosalie, and sons John (Lise), Paul (Roberta), Andrew (Theresa), Larry Jr. (Jessie), and daughter Ellen (Paul); his grandchildren Jeffrey (Anna), Caroline (James), Christopher (Monae), Stephen (Madison), Lawrence, Andrew (Carmela), and Jonathan; great-grandchildren Lane, Wilder, and Marco. Numerous loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends remember him well.

Larry leaves a legacy of hard work and responsibility to his family, as well as a love for life and appreciation of nature. He often said he found his God and religion in the woods, quoting John Muir, "The mountains are calling, and I must go."

Visitation will take place at Hodges Funeral Home, 111th Avenue North, Naples, on Saturday, August 10, from 5 pm to 8 pm, including a repast. A funeral service and dinner will be held at a later date at St. Clare of Assisi Church and The Pine Restaurant, in the Bronx, New York.