Warning, this post may seem a bit depressing
I have been traveling up to New Jersey frequently. Last week I was up for Easter, two weeks ago it was a funeral:
VINCENT "JIMMY" MASUCCI, 80, of Manahawkin, STAFFORD, died Friday, April 2. He was employed by the Garfield Police Department and retired as captain in 1987, working for 30 years. He owned and operated Masucci Electric, Garfield, for 22 years. He was a World War II Army veteran, serving in the infantry in Europe. He was a Purple Heart recipient.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Josephine Ganguzza Masucci; two sons and daughters-in-law, Peter and Linda Masucci of Westwood, and Vincent and Peggy Masucci of Barnegat; two daughters and sons-in-law, Carol and Tony Gaeta of Montville, and Michele and John Pitt of Barnegat; a brother, Peter Masucci of Garfield; and nine grandchildren, Michael, Danielle, Peter Jr., Megan, Janelle, Nicholas, John Jr., Brianne and Ashley.
"James" was my Grandmother's cousin, they lived next door to each in Garfield,NJ for many years. He really celebrated life and I'll miss him.
On a more cycling related topic, this past weekend, I got my mother to ride a bike for 15 minutes. I don't think she can remember the last time she was actually on a bike. I tried to tell her that 30 minutes a day for three days a week is the minimum recommended amount of exercise to reduce the risk of diabetes and I couldn't remember the stats, but I did tell her that it will also reduce her risk of breast cancer(Bicycling Magaine ran an article citing studies that cycling reduces the risk of breast cancer.)
I've been twisting my mother's arm(and her sister Antonina) to ride a 10 mile event called the Heidi's Chain of Hope(10 mile,25 mile, 62 mile) a ride to benefit the Cancer House of Hope.
A bit of background though, my mother's sister Gaetana(for those at home keeping track, my grandfather had 4 daughters, no sons) is a Breast Cancer Survivor as is my cousin Linda Armstrong(no relation to LA). After recovering, Gaetana started the Cancer House of Hope as a place where people could come for emotional, psychological, and educational support in the Westfield, MA area. I met Heidi at the inaguaral "Chain Of Hope" ride two years ago. This year, the ride has been named in her memory and I will be riding it with my mother and Aunt in tow. If you are in the Westfield, MA area mid-May please consider riding the event, its a good cause. Or to make a donation Click here.
