Leonard Mascia

Leonard “Lenny” Mascia

Leonard “Lenny” Mascia of Union, NJ passed away peacefully March 6, 2021.  Leonard was born on May 19, 1929 in Newark, NJ to Gaetano and Giuseppina Mascia.  He was raised in Newark with his oldest sister, Faustina (Tina) Stefanelli and younger brother, Alphonse.  He graduated high school and was accepted to Newark College of Engineering (NCE) the current NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology). His education was put on pause when he served in the army and was stationed in Germany for 3 years.  Upon his return he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then began his professional career at a few companies before working at AT&T for 31 years before retiring.

Lenny served as past president of the Father Vincent Monella Center of Italian Culture (CIC) and also as a past president and board member of the Casa Italiana located in South Orange, NJ.  He dedicated many hours to maintaining the integrity, building and spirit of the organization.

Lenny’s kindness and engineering skills benefitted all who knew him.  He showed up for all to build, fix, help out, create, design, you name it, he figured it out.  For enjoyment Lenny loved to socialize, travel and spend time with family.  His stories of his youth, war time, and travel were extraordinary.  He lived life to the fullest with a smile and twinkle in his eyes.

Leonard is pre-deceased by his wife, Waneta, of 46 years and is survived by her son Rick Matarazzo, his wife Shari and their children Jesse and Derek.

Lenny lived with and was cared for by his nephew, Lenny Stefanelli and his family, wife Lisa, sons, Leonardo, Dante and Luca in East Hanover for the past year and loved great Italian meals and had many laughs.  Lenny loved to get out of the house every day and his nephew would take him out wherever he wanted to go and also loved to run errands with him.   Lenny could always again count on his nephew to bring him to visit Cesare’s and Angela’s house so he could get a great meal and have more laugh's with the whole family.  Additionally, he was very close to his nephew Cesare Stefanelli, wife Valerie, children Nicholas and Nina, niece Angela Longo, her husband Art and children, Arthur and Joseph.   He also touched many people in a good way and his nephews and niece fondly remember his huge heart.

Visitation will be held at the Galante Funeral Home 2800 Morris Ave Union on Wednesday from 7-9PM. There will be a Chapel Service on Thursday at Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum East Hanover at 10:30AM.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in his name to the Wounded Warriors Project.