Michael "Pops" Moses Fantozzi Wwii Vet.

Mr. Michael Moses Fantozzi, known simply as Pops, 98, of North Chelmsford MA died Friday morning, July 26, 2024 at his home after a period of declining health.
He was married to the love of his life Mary Choulakes Fantozzi who he married on September 11, 1954, and were married for 57 years until her passing on October 12, 2011.
Born in Lowell Ma on December 28, 1925, with his twin brother Nicholas Fantozzi, the son of the late Eugenio Fantozzi and Anna Marie Stabile of Italy. He received his honorary high school diploma from Chelmsford High School in 2008 as he enlisted before he could graduate.
All Five Fantozzi brothers served in WWII where Michael served as a U.S. Marine PFC. Known as Moe to his buddies in the service, Michael trained in South Carolina and was shipped to Beijing China where he served as a guard at a POW camp for 3 years. He loved being a Marine. Semper Fi.
After coming home from the service Michael was a wool sorter at Nichols Wool factory in North Chelmsford for 25 years. As a second job he did landscaping with Louie Zaher and bartended at The Paramount in Vinal Square. Michael worked as the head of shipping and receiving at Prince Packaging in Lowell Ma. for 25 years until his retirement. Wednesdays were and always have been Prince Spaghetti Day.
He is a lifelong honorary member of the American Legion A.W. Vinal Post 313 of North Chelmsford and a past member of the Chelmsford Elks and Stony Brook Fish and Game.
Michael loved duckpin bowling and as a child used to set up pins at the bowling alleys in Vinal Square. He was a semiprofessional duckpin bowler for many years going up and down the east coast bowling in tournaments with his nephew John DePalma. He also loved to play horseshoes and the Italian finger game Morra with family and friends. He loved to bet on the ponies, and you would find him and his brothers at Rockingham Park every Saturday afternoon. He was a season ticket holder with his grandson to the Lowell Golden Gloves, The Lowell Spinners, The Lowell Lock Monsters, and the UMass Lowell Riverhawks. He lived and breathed all the Boston sports teams and even in his 90's would stay up until the early morning hours watching his Red Sox on the West Coast.
Michael was all about family and was the best brother, husband, dad, and grandfather you could ever ask for. If the garage door was open, it was a sign to come on in and say hello and to have a beer or two.
His favorite trip was in his 90's when he went to Turks & Caicos, it was the first trip on a plane since he flew home from WWII.
He is survived by his grandson and caregiver Michael McGovern and their 3 dogs Bentley, Brady, and Beau. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Patricia McGovern and the brother of the late Frederick Fantozzi, John Fantozzi, James Fantozzi, Nicholas Fantozzi, Antionette Bonura, Rose DePalma, Lena Cummings, and Doris Rita Leo.
FUNERAL NOTICE
Michael visiting hours will be Fri., Aug. 2, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral Sat., Aug. 3, 2024 at 8am from the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, with a funeral Mass at 9am at St. John the Evangelist Church in N. Chelmsford. Burial in Fairview Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorials may be made in his memory to the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6 Flr., Brookline, MA 02445. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com.