Vincent C. Pizzo

CMSGT Vincent C. Pizzo (retired Air Force) of Oscoda, Tucson and Lansing, died December 10, 2021 in Lansing, Mi.  He was 92 years old. 

 

Born to Santa (Re) Pizzo and Anthony Pizzo on January 19, 1929 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Vincent "Jim" Pizzo was one of 5 children.  His parents both had immigrated through Ellis Island from small villages in Sicily, Italy.  As a first generation American, he grew up in a tight knit Catholic family where Italian was spoken but English was encouraged as the family assimilated and both parents became naturalized citizens.

 

He graduated from Phillipsburg High School and soon after enlisted.

 

He served 30 years in the United States Air Force, rising from an aircraft mechanic to flight line crew chief to logistics to flying on the Airborne Command Post as a logistics/war plans specialist.  He had Top Secret clearance and was a Korean War and Vietnam veteran. 

 

He was stationed at Wurtsmith AFB in Michigan where he met and married Carolyn Grasser in 1953; Selfridge AFB in Michigan, where daughter Loretta Susan was born in 1954; Goose Bay Labrador AFB in Canada; McGuire AFB in New Jersey, where daughter Catherine Santa was born in 1957; and Loring AFB in Maine.

 

While the family was in Oscoda on vacation from Maine, he was transferred to Clark AFB in the Phillipines.  The family stayed in Oscoda while he was transferred from the Phillipines to Grissom AFB in Indiana, to Ubon AFB in Thailand, to K. I. Sawyer AFB in Michigan, back to Ubon AFB in Thailand, to Kincheloe AFB in Michigan during which time son Michael Anthony was born in 1970 at Wurtsmith, to Torrejon AFB in Spain, back to Wurtsmith, to Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska – his final posting – where he flew several years on the Airborne Command Post.  In the event of nuclear war and destruction of ground bases, the Airborne Command Post, with it’s crew of 22,  would serve as flying bunkers for the president, secretary of defense, and military commanders, who would direct the war from the airplane.

 

He received many medals and ribbons and awards, including the Oak Leaf Cluster, with three oak leafs; and was granted honorary pilot wings by his commanding third star general at the Airborne Command Post.

 

After 25 years of marriage, Carolyn Grasser Pizzo and he divorced.  Later, he met Esther Haneckow in Oscoda and they were married 10 years before her death in 1990. He then met Maxine S. Kirvan, also in Oscoda, and they were together 27 years before her death in 2017.

 

He was a member of the VFW and American Legion posts in Oscoda and a life member of the VFW, American Legion and 40 et 8 Voiture of Tucson, Arizona, where he resided part time and then full time from 1992 to 2021 when he moved to Lansing to be near family.

 

During his service years at Wurtsmith AFB and in retirement, at times he was a bartender at Desi's Mexican Bar/Grill, worked at Wurtsmith AFB Credit Union and was a manager at KFC. He held office in AuSable Township as well.

 

He is survived by daughter Loretta S. Stanaway; son Michael A. Pizzo, Michael's wife Jennifer Pizzo, son Logan and daughter Alexandria; sister Dia Decker; stepsons Rick Haneckow and family; Randy Haneckow and family; Tim Haneckow and family; stepdaughter-in-law Valorie Haneckow and family; and many nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by Carolyn’s sister Patricia Grasser and her brother and sister-in-law Albert and Jovita Grasser.

 

He was predeceased by former wife Carolyn J. Pizzo, mother of his children; daughter Catherine S. Norman; wife Esther Haneckow Pizzo; long time companion Maxine S. Kirvan; stepson Kim Haneckow; brother Charles V. Pizzo and his wife Irene K. Pizzo; brother George Pizzo and his wife Nellie; sister Antoinette Pizzo Trincheria and her husband James; and Loretta's husband Thomas L. Stanaway and her stepson Todd R. Stanaway.

 

Interment of ashes will take place during a memorial service at Pinecrest Cemetery in Oscoda on Saturday, April 30th at 1:00 p.m. with military honors.

 

The family was served by Palmer, Bush and Jensen Family Funeral Homes in Lansing, Mi.