Joseph Massa
...decorated WWII Navy Veteran, computer programer; 88
TEWKSBURY - Joseph Massa, age 88, a decorated WW II Navy Veteran, died Thursday, January 25, at the Lowell General Hospital after a brief illness. He was the husband of Sara M. (Covello) Massa, with whom he had celebrated a 65th wedding anniversary this past June 29th.
He was born in Haverhill, on July 14, 1918, a son of the late Frank and Filomina (Albanese) Massa and was educated in Haverhill schools. He left Haverhill to enlist into the U.S. Navy in 1937. After being honorably discharged from the Navy at Pearl Harbor in April 1941, he married Sara and moved to Dorchester, where they resided until moving to Tewksbury in 1955.
In 1942, he re-enlisted into the US Navy, and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill, assigned to the Pacific Fleet. The USS Bunker Hill would earn 11 Battle Stars and the Presidential Unit Commendation during the time Mr. Massa served on board. He narrowly escaped death on May 11, 1945, when the USS Bunker Hill was stuck by two Japanese Kamikaze bombers during the invasion of Okinawa. His ship suffered 394 killed or missing, and burned for many hours during that battle, before returning to port for repairs. Mr. Massa was again discharged in October 1945 at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Upon completion of his second Navy duty tour, Mr. Massa began work at the Charlestown Navy Ship Yard. He retired after 29 years of service to the ship yard as a computer programmer and systems analyst. Over that 29-year period, he received several commendations and awards.
He graduated from Bentley College, where he was a Charter member of the Bentley College Blue and Gold Society.
Mr. Massa was a Communicant of St. Dorothy's Church in Wilmington, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Ward Post 8164 in Tewksbury, a member of the Tewksbury Golden Age Club, and a frequent visitor to the Tewksbury Senior Drop-In Center.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph Massa Jr., and his wife Mary (Wilson) of Derry, NH; two daughters and sons-in-law, Joanne Lambert and her husband Laurence of Lowell, Lorraine McNamara and her husband Robert of Westminster; a brother and sister-in-law, Nicholas Massa and his wife Earlyne of Haverhill; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Angelo and Sue Covello of CA; nine grandchildren, Anne E. Parker of Nottingham, NH, Ellen E. Cabral of Hampstead, NH, Joseph A. Massa of Watertown, Thomas P. Massa of Derry, NH, Christine E. Haskell and Brian T. Haskell both of Chelmsford, Shawn C. Lambert and Michael G. Lambert both of Lowell, Melissa A. Meagh of Brighton; three great grandchildren, Douglas, Hannah, and Samuel; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also brother of the late Louis Albanese, Elizabeth Bertolino, and Carolyn "Peggy" Hamel.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, January 29, in St. Dorothy's Church, Wilmington. Burial with Navy Honors was in Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the Friends of the Elderly, Building Fund, 460 East St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 will be appreciated.