JOSEPH VINCENT MAZZONE, SR

JOSEPH V. MAZZONE, SR. age73. Beloved father of Joseph, Jr. (Amanda). Cherished grandfather of Natalie and William Swallow. Dearest son of the late Vincent "James" and Nicolina. Dear brother of Marilyn Pietrocola (Dick Vullo), Deborah Dumek, Marco (deceased), Dea Planovsky (deceased) (Jerry) and Cheryl (deceased). Uncle, cousin and friend of many.

Joseph Vincent Mazzone, age 73 of Westlake OH, left his earthly body on Sunday, July 24th, 2022.  Joe was born on January 6th, 1949, in Cleveland OH.  He was the 4th child of Vincent and Nicolina Mazzone. From an early age, he took an interest in athletics and exercise.  He was also proud to help the family business - M. Mazzone and Son’s Bakery.  Joe worked on the trucks delivering bread and pastry to the community before sunrise.  He adopted these habits for the rest of his life, as he was known to start his day before 5am and was always on time.

Joe was a proud alumnus of West Tech High School where he continued to excel in his studies and athletics. It was also during this time he forged life-long friendships.  This group of gentlemen known to some as “The West Tech Breakfast Club” continued to keep in touch for the next 55 years.  Once most of the group retired, they began gathering once a week for breakfast.   At these weekly meetings they told tales of the good old days including the football games they played, the dances they attended and the classic cars they drove. 

Joe continued his education at Miami University in Oxford OH.  In 1973, he earned a Masters of Education in Drafting and Mechanical Drawing.  Following his graduation, he become a teacher with North Olmsted City Schools where he taught and coached for the next 35 years.  Joe is credited with starting the North Olmsted High School’s strength and conditioning program long before such programs became popular.  He enjoyed working with student-athletes to improve their abilities and very much believed the lessons learned in athletics could be applied to daily life. 

In 2008, Joe retired from education.  He continued to enjoy working on home projects and became an “on call/non-paid employee” fixing broken equipment at his son and daughter-in-law’s fitness facilities.  He also continued exercising and weight training into his 70’s.  In his final years he loved meeting with his friends and socializing at the gym where, on occasion, he would let the athletic trainers know how it used to be done. 

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Rocco Church, Friday July 29, 2022 at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends Thursday 4 - 8 PM at THE A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OHIO (WEST of I-71).