Joseph Carl Mastroianni

Joseph Carl Mastroianni passed away on September 17th after a brief illness. He was 7 days shy of his 81st birthday. Joseph died on his terms with peace and dignity. He took his last breath listening to his favorite music with family by his side.

Born in Brooklyn, NY to Carl Mastroianni and Madeline Tassi, he is predeceased by his sisters Lois Capua, Celia Mastroianni, and brother Richard Mastroianni. He leaves behind his brothers Ronald, Guy, and James Mastroianni, his sister Mary Ingoglia, his children David, Mark and Steven Mastroianni, Traci Currier, Carmen Higgins, and Damian Mastroianni, and their significant others, several nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren or “greats” as he referred to them.

Joseph was raised in his teens by his grandfather and surrogate father, soon to be father-in-law “Spud” Towse, who took him under his wing. In 1969 Joseph and his brother Ronald reunited with their birth father and met their new step mother Marian and three new siblings in the UK. After Joseph and Donna divorced, and Spud’s untimely death in 1976, Joseph and 2nd wife Ann (Perotti) and her daughter, Carmen moved to California. Ann and Carmen later returned to Massachusetts and Joseph remained in California. There Joseph met and married Leslie Taylor. The two adventured to Spain where they adopted their son Damian. Joseph studied classical guitar and became lifelong friends with his fellow classmate and mentor José Maria Gallardo Del Rey.

Joseph lived an extraordinary life from flying Medivac helicopters in Vietnam, being told he would not walk again and nearly dying of infection after being hit by a car in NYC, only to cycle across America from Santa Barbara, CA to Woburn, MA.

The accident in NYC cost him everything but he embraced a non-materialistic lifestyle. He raised huge sums of money for various causes in his beloved Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. He worked tirelessly with the homeless for 8 years with New Beginnings (a source of great joy for him) and spent countless hours on the phone with whomever needed his infinite wisdom and advice.

There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial Service on October 22, 2022 in Danville, NH and on November 5th in Santa Barbara, CA. The details will be shared on Joseph’s Facebook Page, or you may email traci.currier@gmail.com for Danville, NH or james.e.mastroianni@gmail.com for Santa Barbara, CA for celebrations.