Obituary of Joseph C. Pustizzi

Joseph Pustizzi, 96, of Buena Borough, passed away on December 13, 2011 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Joe was born on December 3, 1915 at home in Forest Grove, NJ. He was one of 13 children born to Carmelo and Guiseppina Pustizzi who had emigrated here from Augusta, Sicily at the turn of the century. He was married to the late Angelina DeFelice for over 50 years and had 6 children, 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He started his career on the family farm but his first love was fixing mechanical things. He was a self taught mechanic, plumber, electrician, carpenter, mason, welder, mechanical engineer and businessman who worked as a mechanic for the legendary local businessmen of Harry Doerr, Gene Mori and George Pernazza. He always had a desire to own his own business and, at 16 years old, he operated a gas station in Richland. Later, along with his wife, founded Trico Equipment in 1952 when he built and operated an Atlantic Gas Station and sold Case Farm Tractors. In 1957 he teamed up with a few local fellows and built the "Case 300" Modified Stockcar that went on to win 13 NASCAR Feature Races that year. As the business evolved into selling Case Construction Equipment he received many sales achievement awards, highlighted by being honored as the Top Performance Case Construction Equipment Dealer in North America in 1979. Although he had retired as a successful businessman he had remained active, working on many of his projects, growing grapes, gardening, restoring old cars, helping his family and helping the community or anyone in need. He was a lifelong resident of Buena Borough and served as a Borough Councilman. He has always been active in politics. He was a Committeeman in the Atlantic County Democratic Party and received the Rubin Wishkin Memorial Award. He has been honored by the Buena outreach Advisory Board Atlantic County Office of the Aging and Disabled as "Man of the Year" for outstanding volunteer work. He served as a member of the Buena Borough Recreation Commission, finished at least 4 baseball fields at Bruno Melini Park and sponsored Little League teams for over 15 years. He was honored in 2003 when the Joseph Pustizzi Pavilion was named in his honor for his tireless work at the park. He was one of the founders of the Forest Grove Athletic Association and has run many fundraisers for them dating back to the 1930"s. He has been active in the Exchange Club for over 40 years and was active bowling with his team until 16 years ago. He made wine from the grapes of his own vineyard and has won the "Il Migliore Dei Migliori" (Best of the Best) award several times from the Sicilian American Club. He assisted with various building projects at Our Lady of Victories (Queen of Angels Parish) and he unselfishly helped build a better community by doing what he could when assistance was needed. Those that knew him know he was a quiet, unassuming and methodical and never got excited, never sat still and he liked to help people. One also knew that he was a collector. He collected things and collected people for life and when he saw you he always greeted you with a warm smile and called you by name. He is survived by daughters, Eileen & Jim McMahan, Marianne Pustizzi & Jimmy Michaux (significant other); his sons Joe Pustizzi Jr. & Margo Cresci (significant other); Anthony & Pattie (Nealis) Pustizzi, Michael & Cyndi (Baer) Pustizzi; Ken & Stephanie (Bylone) Pustizzi; grandsons Andrew & Stephanie Pustizzi, Christopher & Jaime Pustizzi; Jeff & Kelly Pustizzi; Greg Pustizzi, Kenny Pustizzi, Kevin Pustizzi & Jill Paterini (fiancé); granddaughters Myriah (McMahan) & Brian Shewchuk, Allyson (McMahan) & Eric Boucher;,; Danielle (Pustizzi) & Michael Wynn, Angela Pustizzi, Sarah Pustizzi and Deseree Baer; great-grandchildren, Thomas "TJ" Pustizzi, Angelina Pustizzi, Gina Pustizzi, Rocco Pustizzi, Adelle Shewchuk & Charles Pustizzi; four sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. Joe is predeceased by his wife, Angelina (DeFelice) Pustizzi; sisters, Concetta Scapellato, Domenica Vassallo, Maria Garofalo, Lena Buffa & Rose Pustizzi and his brothers, Vincent, Anthony, & Dominick, Sebastian, Salvatore, John and Albert Pustizzi. Funeral Home Visitations will be held on Friday from 6pm to 9pm and Saturday 8am to 10am at Rone Funeral Service, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 11:00 am from Saint Padre Pio Parish - Church Of Our Lady Of Pompeii, 4680 Dante Avenue, Vineland. Interment will follow in Our Lady Of Victories Cemetery, Landisville. ARRANGEMENTS are under the supervision of Rone Funeral Service, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360 Donations in Joe's memory can be made to: 1. Forest Grove Athletic Association 1101 Wheaton Avenue, Millville, NJ 08332 2. The Sicilian American Club of South Jersey To send online condolences please visit our website at www.RONEFUNERALSERVICE.com