Carmine A. Mezzacappa

Carmine Antonio Mezzacappa, 99, of Summit, NJ—formerly of West Brighton and Westerleigh, Staten Island, NY—passed away peacefully on Monday, May 18. Born April 29, 1927, in Monacilioni, Italy, Carmine was the beloved son of Enrico and Marianna (nee Naimo) Mezzacappa. He arrived on Staten Island in 1947, embracing a new life while holding fast to his Italian roots. Staten Island was his home for decades before he moved to Summit in 2023 to be with his family.

He graduated from St. Peter’s Boys High School, Staten Island, in 1948, taking his then future wife, Netta, to the senior prom. He continued his education at New York University (NYU), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry in 1958 at the Washington Square College of Arts and Sciences, a Master of Arts in Italian and Comparative Literature in 1961, and a PhD in the same subject in 1968 from the Graduate School of Arts & Science. Upon graduation he was awarded the NYU Founder’s Day Award for outstanding scholarship.

A gifted scholar and devoted teacher, Professor Mezzacappa served on the faculties of NYU and Rutgers University for more than 40 years. He began his teaching career in 1959 as an instructor in Italian at the Washington Square College and the Division of Adult Education at NYU. From 1963 to 2001 he was a faculty member at Rutgers University-Newark, where he taught Italian language and Italian and comparative literature. He created the major in Italian at the School of Arts and Sciences-Newark, eventually serving for 12 years as the Chair of the former Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literature.

Over the years he earned the love and admiration of his students and colleagues alike by staying involved in campus activities and making every effort to make his students’ experience in academia one that could be cherished for a lifetime. He started the first Italian student organization, the Italian Club of Rutgers-Newark, as well as its literary and cultural journal “Lettere”. He created the Rutgers-Newark Italian Scholarship Fund to support students in need. He twice served as Director of the Rutgers Junior Year Abroad Program in Florence, Italy, which gave him the unique opportunity to share his heritage with his students in his motherland. Upon his retirement in 2001, he was recognized by Rutgers as professor emeritus. He also was recognized by the United States House of Representatives for his “outstanding and invaluable service.”

As a scholar and literary critic, Professor Emeritus Mezzacappa’s primary interest was 19th and 20th century Italian literature. His first book, “Noia e inquitudine nella ‘Vita d’un uomo’ di Giuseppe Ungaretti” (1970), was published just before the poet Ungaretti passed away and has been received as a seminal reference work. While at Rutgers he published numerous articles in various literary and cultural journals, and his work appears in the Columbia Dictionary of Modern European Literature. Still active academically in his 90s, he published three more books of literary criticism: “La focaccia di Cerbero insaziabile – Giacomo Leopardi teorico e poeta della noia” (2019); “Dalla noia alla gioia, mediante la retta ragione e il verace amore – Breve excursus del viaggio immaginario ultraterreno di Dante Alighieri” (2024); “Montale e Ungaretti – Uno spartiacque della realtà poetica, morale e umana presentata nelle loro Opere” (2025). These last works were published in Italy by the Gruppo Editoriale Studium/Marcianum Press, with whom he enjoyed not only a professional but also a deep personal relationship over decades.

Carmine served his country in the First Army Medical Laboratory in New York and thereafter in Korea as a medic during the Korean War. After his military service he worked as a bacteriologist at Metropolitan Hospital, Roosevelt Island, NY, and thereafter as a biochemist and researcher at the Brooklyn VA Medical Center for some 20 years, during which time he put himself through university and began his teaching career.

Carmine’s life was grounded in his deep Catholic faith. He reestablished and led the Staten Island Society of Santa Benedetta, honoring the patron saint of his beloved hometown of Monacilioni. While living in Summit he was a member of St Teresa of Avila Parish. His faith informed not only his community work but also the kindness and gratitude that defined his everyday life.

Truly above all, Carmine was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved attending the opera with his wife. He delighted in sharing the simple joys—soccer matches on a Sunday afternoon, a spirited game of scopa or poker, and meals filled with good food, good wine, and better conversation. His table was a place of welcome, his stories were lessons and laughter in equal measure, and his presence was a steady source of love and wisdom for all who knew him.

In addition to his parents and brother Bruno, Carmine was predeceased by his cherished wife of 65 years, Maria Antonietta Mezzacappa (nee Rescigno), and his son, Mario Mezzacappa. He is survived by his children: Enrico and his wife, Giulia Mancini; Anthony and his wife, Mary Ellen Johansen; and Elisa and her husband, James Provenzano. He is also survived by eight loving grandchildren: Daniel, Catherine (Ben), Laura (Dan), Luca (Phoebe), Hannah (Derek), Nicholas, Noah and Isabel, and six great-grandchildren: Cameron, Remy, Grace, Lila, Jack and Heather, all of whom loved him dearly and brought him immense joy. He is also survived by his brother, Frank and his wife, Lenore; his sister-in-law, Anna Holowitz; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may call Tuesday, May 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Avenue, Staten Island NY 10310. A funeral will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 27, at Church of the Holy Family, 366 Watchogue Road, Staten Island NY 10314.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions to a charity of your choice or to a cause that honors Carmine’s lifelong dedication to faith, education, and community.