Vincent Mazza Obituary

Vincent Mazza, age 90, of Cary, died on Monday, December 3, 2007 at his home surrounded by his family.

A native of Freeport, IL, he was born on April 1, 1917 to the late Joseph and Anna LoBianco Mazza. He grew up in Naperville, IL, where he graduated from North Central College in 1941.

In 1942, Vincent entered the Army Air Corp's Officer's flight training program. During his 27-year career in the Air Force, he piloted a B-24 for 30 missions over Europe during WWII. He was awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism on a mission over Germany. In 1949, he was the lead test pilot for ejection seat tests. He was the first man to be ejected from a jet plane flying 550 miles per hour. The following year he served as Project Officer and lead parachutist for the Air Force High Altitude Bailout tests. His freefalls were from as high as 42,000 feet, an unofficial record at that time. He developed and tested the Life Raft Deployment System in which a life raft inflated during the parachute descent. He proved that it was possible to be in the life raft within 8 seconds.

In 1969, he retired as a Lt. Col. at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. On Veteran's Day, 2006, he and four other Naperville servicemen from WWII were honored with the Veteran's Valor sculpture, located in Naperville's Central Park. Vincent enjoyed his retirement living in Hawaii.

Surviving are his daughters, Lori Mazza of Arlington, VA, Sherri Gibbon and husband, Steven of Cary; son, Scott V. Mazza of McLean, VA; brother and sister-in-law, the Reverend and Mrs. Joseph and Susan Mazza of Sturgeon Bay, WI; and two grandchildren: Matthew and Mackenzie Gibbon.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 15, 2008 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. Guests should report to the Old Post Chapel by 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (www.multiplemyeloma.org); the Alzheimer's Foundation (www.alzfdn.org); or to the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust (www.dav.org).

Tributes may be made to the family at www.brownwynne.com.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Naperville Sun on Dec. 16, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Vincent Mazza

6 Entries

Howard (AKA Doc) Blanchard

December 14, 2007

We
first met at Wright-Pat in 1948, car pooled to work.We were together at
AFSC. (I was with him the night he met Shirley) We were both at Eglin
AFB and both togeter in the Minuteman SPO. We played golf together, and
partied. Vince had a good voice and we sang together. My kids baby sat
Lori, Sherri, and Scott.I knew him well and he was an outstanding
example of AF traditions: Fearless, brave, and intelligent.He did much
more than his obit lists. Putting his life on the line often. He was a
hero to me

Jean Henning

December 13, 2007

We are old friends. Grew up together. He was my first date. Sad that I am still left and all my wonderful friends have gone.
Jean Oliver Henning

Damiano Mazza

December 13, 2007

I have a great remeber of Vince, that for me and my family in Italy was and is an uncle. For the little period I've been closed to him I felt his love for the life and this is what I learned from a great man like him.

Fearless bungee-jumping Vince!

Scott Mazza

December 11, 2007

He was my Dad. I will always be so proud of him! I have so many interesting photos of him, but I figured that the one of him bungee-jumping in New Zealand at the age of 77 really captures the "there's nothing that I can't do" spirit that he always had right up until the end. Enjoy!

Emmit Morehead

December 10, 2007

I am sorrowed to hear of the loss Mr Mazza. From what little I know of him, he has accomplished alot in his long and fruitful life.
Wish I could have shook his hand and thanked him for his service to our country.

Terri Mazza

December 10, 2007

Uncle Vin - He played bocce ball at our new house, dinners at the Mazza's in Western Springs, dedication of the his life size statue in Naperville on a COLD Veteran's day, and most importantly his 90 birthday party in Virginia. On behalf of the Park Ridge Mazza's I feel he was very much a "rock star" to our two young boys - Daniel & Robert. Any WWII Vet that flew over the Germany, tested air ejection seats and bungee jumped - where high up on their hero's list. Then add the guns and airplanes - what more could little guys adore. They like actually talking to Uncle Vin. He had a sharp memory for the past and it has truly been on honor to be part of his life. What a great life he had. It has been a pleasure sharing your history and getting closer to the cousins too. Thanks and know Uncle Vin is flying right now just in a higher place. Our Deepest Sympathies, Terri, David, Daniel and Robert.

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