Augustine J. Fiori

Go in Snow and Pay the Tow – A Tribute to Augustine J. Fiori and Depot Motors Augustine J. Fiori, 98 years old, died on September 8, 2025, in his authentically loved home city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Gus was born in his epicenter of the universe on November 19, 1926. The location was 84 Farnham Street, Lawrence, a home where his parents Angelina Berzi and Jacob Fiori, a stitcher, and a mule spinner, respectively tended the brood with much olive oil, free range chickens and legacy. He grew up in, with and through the streets of Lawrence during the poverty of the depression. Gus was the baby, and he ran with a pack of siblings (Seraphine, Louis, Antoinette, Josephine). He worked first in his oldest brother Joe's gas stations and then escaped to co-ownership with brother Louie and then finally reached that nirvana of car dealer where he would populate the ranks of employees with four children. His stock in trade was hard work. He was the original hardscrabble minimalist employer hiring anyone who met his work ethic. He is predeceased by everyone in his eyes because well, when you live to be almost a centenarian, then loss and adjustment become the air you breathe. Like all things that he did, he went out protesting. We affirm you, Gus. A great life is short; even when one is almost ninety-nine. If there is a cream puff car lot in heaven; then we hope you find it. He had desired to reach 100 and party with and for, Lawrence. Gus served in the army 1945 to 1946 overseas as a technician. He met sweet, smart, loyal, family-loving Rose Evelyn Driscoll (and her trio of admirable sisters) sometime around the late 1940s and the rest was a half-century union of Irish meets Italian history before Rosemary passed in 2001 with Gus remaining fond of the inimitable Driscoll family tree. His created tribe of Fiori includes Gus, Paul, Joan, and Rosemary and their wondrous clans and partners and spouses, ten grandchildren and one beautiful great granddaughter. During the early family growing time he bought land in Seabrook NH and built a cottage with help from his cherished brother-in-law Phil and moved his foursome around Lawrence and Methuen. Gus's entire life revolved around his pride in his business, being indefatigable, the energy of going to the NY car auctions, and greeting folks who would stop by Depot Motors. Life was peppered by Sunday dinners and casinos, dancing and Metaxa, paint fumes and a quick beer between coats. Gus's license to sell cars was his ragione di vita. He never surrendered the repair or dealer plates until he surrendered his life. Gus never allowed anyone in his orbit to be hungry and cooked the most marvelous blue-plate specials both at his garage mid-day at work and at home. The man that never seemed to be frivolous was childlike bursting through the ocean tides at Seabrook or strutting his disco to "we are family." Gus had a renaissance marrying again a few weeks before his 80th birth date. He is survived by his second wife, Lazara Aparecida De Souza and her robust and extended clan of São Paulo, Brazil. Gus marshaled his elder energy to grow their ranks as now the established and ever-growing residents of 84 Farnham Street. Gus loved the sacred nature of breaking bread; food was both medicine and love. Gus loved his pet and watch dogs, Jerome Ave. in the Bronx, rigatoni, being a short order cook, coffee-hour, car auctions, market basket, publisher's clearinghouse, corn muffins and his home front of 84 Farnham Street located about a mile from his enduring Depot Motors. He did not love owning cars. He loved selling cars and painting cars and cleaning cars. For a man that lived to almost ninety-nine; he never coveted or pined for a new ride. Depot Motors was his pride. Because as with his namesakes, a life's good labor and the gifts it brings over time, was his reward. To his final days he would gaze upon the spot that used to be so chaotic and have joy in the memories of a colorful life. Gus loved Lawrence to the depth of his soul. A week before his death he could easily recite the accurate configuration of every business on Essex Street in 1955 from end to end when he said, "Louie and I owned the city of Lawrence." He never moved away to an assisted living by the sea or a high rise with an elevator or even to an in-law with the grown kids. He was with, through and of the bread and roses city of Lawrence MA. Augustine J. Fiori, Sr., had a life of enduring work (his bread) and most assuredly a life of dignity (his roses). Rest with your Rose again, now, Gus. Visiting hours are Friday, September 19, 2025 from 3 pm to 5 pm at Breen Funeral Home on 122 Amesbury Street in Lawrence. Mass will be held at Saint Patrick's Church in Lawrence on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 11 am with graveside interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery North Andover MA. http://www.breenfuneralhome.com