Obituary of Joseph P. Yozzo

Joseph P. Yozzo There's a little less music in Rome New York today. Joseph P. Yozzo, 90, of Rome passed away Sunday March 6, 2016 at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Utica after a brief illness. He was born in Mt. Kisco, NY on March 8, 1925 a son of the late Anthony Yozzo and Mary (Belarge) Yozzo Ceravolo. He attended Rome schools and received an honorary high school diploma in 2001 from Rome Free Academy. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, having fought in the battle of Luzon. He earned the American Service Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Trusty Shellback Certificate from the Imperium Neptuni Regis. He was particularly proud to have been a member of the 230th army ground forces band where he played the sousaphone and the string bass in both military and swing bands. Joe performed for the Special Services with Bob Hope as the host and with such musical greats as the Dorsey brothers, Frankie Carl and Les Brown. He began his musical interest under the legendary professor Eustacio Pinti and as a young teen he purchased a string bass on a "payment plan". He got into hot water over this with his step father, Anthony Ceravolo, but this turned out to be a very good plan. On June 28, 1947, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Yozzo in St. Savior Church in Brooklyn. Betty and Joe lived in Brooklyn for a brief time after their marriage where Joe pursued his music career. He decided that he did not want to raise a family on the road, so they moved back to Joe's childhood hometown where they shared a blessed union over 62 years and raised three daughters. Betty passed away on August 24, 2009. Joe was a life member of the Professional Musicians of CNY, Local 78 A.F. of M, Toccolana Club and in 2011 was inducted into the Rome Arts Hall of Fame. Prior to working as a self employed carpenter/contractor, Joe worked at the former Griffiss AFB in maintenance. His successful career as a contractor was coupled with the renovation and rental of numerous apartments in Rome and as a plumber with his friend Jimmy Falcone. He also spent several years working for the City of Rome as a maintenance supervisor, retiring in 1993. All the while he managed to pursue his love of music. He played with several local bands, including the Johnny Salerno quartet, the Jack Palmer Trio, the Jack Palmer Sr. Big Band, the Stan Colella Orchestra, the Sox Tiffault duo, the No-Name Band, the Sal Alberico Big Band, the Rome Civic Band and the Yesterday's Senior Ensemble Band. Given the opportunity he would play with any band and was proud to have played in all of the Honor America Days Parade with his own band "Joe Yozzo and Friends". His final musical performance was during February of this year at the Eastern Star Home where he accompanied his longtime musical friend Carlton (Boonie) Boone. Surviving are three daughters, Barbara (Ronald) Gladwin, Susan Mendiola (John Sugar), and Christine Yozzo (Scott Breault), all of Rome, four grandchildren (who thought papa could fix anything), Nicholas (Jennifer D'Amore) Mendiola, Rome, Jacklyn (Derek) Levisay, Leander, Texas, Aaron Breault (Nicole Farino) Rome and Anthony Provost, four step-grandchildren, Cindy (Mike) Horan, Kelly Hartley, Richard (Kaye) Gladwin, and Jeff (Dawn) Gladwin, seven great grandchildren, Sydney, Miles and Marilyn Mendiola, Chelsea, Dylan and Ethan Levisay and Samantha Breault, and several step great grandchildren. Sisters-in-law: Rosamond Mattiello and Barbara Mattiello of New York, NY. He was predeceased by a brother Nicholas and a son Nicholas on August 27, 1960. The family would like to express a special thank you to his close friends, Barb Falcone, Jack and Rosalie Palmer, Dan and Karen Falatico, Augie Lamonica, his home health aide Alysha and his cleaner/companion Penny. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd.corner of Turin Rd. on Friday from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in memory of Joe to The Rome Capital Theatre, 220 W. Dominick St., Rome, NY 13440 or in memory of Nicholas Yozzo to The American Heart Association, 120 Lomond Ct., Utica, NY 13502 or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc. To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com … and I think to myself what a wonderful world.