Obituary of Jack Mazzarella

Jack Mazzarella (Wayne John) died July 29th at the age of 89. Jack is survived by his wife (Christine Gioseffi) of 65 years, and daughters: Margie Smith (Lynn Atlee), Sue Neidlinger (William) and son: Ron (Francine Cimino) as well as 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Jack also is survived by 2 sisters and their children: Irma Waldo (Doug, John, Wendy and Amy) and Norma Campbell (Heidi, Bill, Tony, Jack and Jesse). He is also survived by Lucy, his beloved Beagle. Jack was the son of Anthony Mazzarella (Sidney, NY) and Irma Liccione (Mt. Vernon, NY). Jack graduated from Alfred in 1947 with a degree in Rural Engineering. He helped to build race cars during this time. Jack came to Brockport in 1951, where he attended Brockport State College. There, he met his wife, Christine, and they married in 1952. Jack graduated from Brockport with a Bachelors of Science in Education in 1954 and graduated with his Masters in Administration and Supervision from Brockport State in 1956. Jack had a diversity of careers during his life. He built a boys' camp (Camp Wangum in Honesdale, PA), he owned a gas station, built race cars, sold insurance, built an airplane as well as an airport (Ledgedale Airport), early in his married life during summers he dug sewer lines. He was also an electrician, plumber and carpenter. He worked for Habitat for Humanity. As his neighbors and friends said, "If we needed something built, made, done or fixed – Jack was there for us!" Later in life, Jack was instrumental in repairing hundreds of bikes for the Brockport Welcome Center to have for touring the canal. In addition to the careers listed above, Jack was a teacher. When he began teaching at Brockport, he taught 4th grade. He took a hiatus selling insurance; then went back to Brockport, teaching a variety of subjects. For most of his years though, he taught English and Social Studies in the middle school at Brockport Central. In 1967, he realized his dream of having an airport in Brockport by building an airport in a day (no joke!) and having Bill Piper (owner of Piper Aircraft) land in a new Piper twin engine aircraft by the end of the same day! He then went on to build the rest of the airport that has been in use ever since. Jack volunteered for many projects, activities and organizations. He volunteered for: Exempts (Brockport Fire Department), Lakeside Memorial Hospital, Southwest Strong Hospital, Rang the bell for Salvation Army, Morgan Manning (especially enjoyed the Cake Walk), Nativity of the BVM – events such as: chicken barbeque (he made the grill for the BBQ) and w/ Father Roy started the drive-through for the BBQ. He helped with getting players and sponsors for the Lakeside Golf Tournament. Jack was an active alumni for SUNY at Brockport. He volunteered for many years at the Geneseo War Plane Museum. Jack donated his time and materials for countless projects for people he knew or just met. An example was when he donated the material and time to build a handicapped ramp for a neighbor of the golf course where he volunteered. Jack had many friends and relatives –he was exemplary as a husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be missed by all.