John Massarello

John A. Massarello was a kindhearted and loving man who loved being at their cottage on Brandywine Lake with his family. A hardworking family man, he treasured his beloved wife, his children and grandchildren. Family, faith and friends – these are the things that mattered to John.

In 1913, all of America was changing: transportation became more accessible with the popularization of trains and the growing number of automobiles; Woodrow Wilson was elected President; conflicts in Europe were quickly heating up and a world war was in the near future. It was into this world of change that Italian immigrants, Salvotre and Paola Massarello, welcomed the birth of their son, John Angelo, on January 29, 1913, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was the youngest of the three Massarello boys: Joe, Jack and John.

As a young boy, John’s family moved to Arnold, Wisconsin where his father found work in his trade as a brick mason. Later, they would move again to find work, this time settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was here that John attended school with fellow classmate and football teammate, Gerald R. Ford, who would later lead our great country. As the youngest, John was always very close to his mother. They lived in an Italian community in Grand Rapids and since his mother only spoke Italian, he was often her translator and little helper. John followed in the footsteps of the other men in his family by leaving school after the eighth grade to pursue working in the construction trades.

When John was in his mid 20s, a wonderful thing happened to him – he met the love of his life, Catherine Rose Cekola. This happened one fateful night when John and his best friend, Tony Mazzola, went to Kalamazoo to attend an Italian/American dance. Though John wasn’t much of a dancer, he basically came to meet the girls and in the end, found his one true love. In fact, Tony also met a girl that night, Catherine’s sister Mary. As it turned out, they both married the sisters too! John and Catherine were happily married on November 11, 1939, at the old St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, and were blessed with three children: Kay, JoAnn and John.

A couple of years after marrying, John was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. Proudly, he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and served in the motor pool in India at a place known as the “Hump.” Meanwhile, Catherine moved back with her family until his safe return. Upon his honorable discharge, John returned home to his beloved wife and family and soon found work as a press operator at Georgia Pacific Paper Company. Dedicated and hardworking, he would work here for over 30 years until his retirement.

John had many interests to keep him busy, most of which centered around his family. When his children were growing up, the family enjoyed many unforgettable vacations every summer, particularly to their cottage at Brandywine Lake in Gobles, which they bought in 1955. Summer time was John’s favorite time of the year because, as a diehard New York Yankee fan, it meant baseball season was in play. His children all have vivid memories of their father keeping a close ear to the radio or eyes on the television to watch the games or perhaps those special occasions when he could attend the games. However, John’s ultimate dream, other than the Yankees winning the World Series, was meeting Mickey Mantle and he got this opportunity, which was the thrill of a lifetime for him. Some of his favorite memories he frequently reminisced about included going to the 1984 Detroit Tiger’s World Series and the 22-inning game between the Tigers and Yankees. John was also very proud and a big fan of his son John’s involvement in football, especially as a walk on player at Michigan State University.

When not glued to the radio or television, John loved to spend time with his family at their cottage. So much so that he and Catherine had the cottage converted to a year round home in 1975. John could often be found cruising around on the lake in his boat or taking his precious grandchildren fishing off the dock. And no matter where he was, John’s dogs always accompanied him. Catherine didn’t care much for the dogs, but tolerated them for they were important to John. He and Catherine enjoyed square dancing and were life members of the Cloverleaf Squares. John was also a member of the St. Vincent dePaul Society and a former president of the Ushers Club at St. Augustine Catholic Church, where he was a member. When it came to eating, John simply loved pasta, particularly spaghetti and meatballs. He would have been happy to have it every day – a true Italian.

John’s hard work provided him with a full and happy life. His family will always remember his kind presence, his loyalty (to the Yankees) and his deep commitment to his family.

John A. Massarello of Portage, Michigan, died on Monday, March 21, 2005. His wife, Catherine Massarello, preceded him in death as well as his parents and brothers, Joe and Jack. He is survived by 2 daughters, Kay Massarello of Portage and JoAnn (Barry) VanderWeele of Portage, and 1 son, John (Kathy) Massarello of Acworth, Georgia; also by 2 grandsons, John P. Massarello and Michael VanderWeele, and 1 granddaughter, Jamie Massarello; two sister-in-laws, Venus Massarello and Esther (Andy) Fisher; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Learn more about John, view his Life Story film, and visit with his family and friends on Wednesday, March 23, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, Stadium Drive, West of 131 in Kalamazoo, where the Rosary will be recited that evening at 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 24, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral with interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Food and fellowship will follow at the St. Augustine Cathedral Center. Please visit John’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to either the Covent Senior Day Care or St. Vincent DePaul.