Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
2001 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-625-8816
Website: http://www.toftfh.com
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Michael Mastellone, 98, of Sandusky, passed away Tuesday evening, March 26, 2019 in the Ohio Veterans Home, Sandusky.
He was born on December 26, 1920 in Newark, New Jersey, the only child to Ciro and Serafina (D'Auria) Mastellone.
He graduated from Central High School in 1939 and Arts High in 1941. He received his machine certificate in 1943.
He worked immediately after high school to support his widowed mother. In 1943 he volunteered for military service, despite his exemption for being his mother's sole supporter. He served in the United States Army, Company B 1306 and his company received 5 stars. He served in England, D-Day 6 in France, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, Austria, Luxembourg, and Germany. He then traveled on the USS General John Pope with 10,000 troops, bound for Japan. After the Japanese surrender, he was honorably discharged from Yokohama, Japan.
Michael met Marie Louis Galante on his birthday in 1945 and married her in June 1946. Michael and Marie were active members of St. Michael's Catholic Church, where they were the first couple of the Cana Association. Michael and Marie moved to Ohio with New Departure. He was the night superintendent until he retired in 1976. He is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sandusky, was the first Lay Eucharistic Minister, and is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
Michael is survived by his daughters, Sara (Stuart Ball) Mastellone, of Montclair, New Jersey, and Joanne (James) Ruthsatz, of Sandusky; son, Gerald (Dawn) Mastellone, of Broadview Heights, OH; 10 grandchildren, Mark (Jessica) Mastellone, Brian (Debbie) Mastellone, Marie (Michael) Kelly, Michela Mastellone, Gerald Mastellone, Kristina Mastellone, Alex Ball, Kimberly (Ruthsatz) Stephens, Ryan Ruthsatz, and Kyle Ruthsatz; 11 great-grandchildren; cousin, Pat Tobia; and longtime friend, John Bossart.
Michael is also survived by the family of his second wife, Lorrie (Jacobs) Mastellone: children, Ellen (Mark) Bullard, of Huron, Valerie (Steve) Ritzenthaler, of Sandusky, Bruce (Shayla Keith) Jacobs, of Franklin, TN, Carole Jacobs Teel, of Reno, NV, and Elaine (Mark) Fitzthum, of Huron; grandchildren, Amy Kempton, Natalie (Lewis Aguilar) Kempton, Tammie (Bob) Frydrychowski, Terrie Bullard, Michael S. Ritzenthaler, Dan (Holli) Ritzenthaler, David (Sophie) Ritzenthaler, and Matthew P. Ritzenthaler, Kurt (Shaunda) Jacobs, Matthew (Rachel) Jacobs, Fallon Keith, Luke (Heather) Gilliam, Elizabeth Sheffield, Jacob Gilliam, Jeremiah (Morgan) Gilliam, Allison Smith, Jessica (Andrew) Stankavich, and Nicholas Fitzthum; and 16 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marie (Galante) Mastellone, in 1993; and second wife, Lorrie (Jacobs) Mastellone, in 2002.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019 until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in the Ohio Veterans Home Giffin Chapel, 3416 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. Military services will follow Mass, followed then by burial in Meadow Green Memorial Park, Huron.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic School, 410 W. Jefferson St., Sandusky, OH 44870 or to his grandson's NGO, The Sacred Valley Project, sacredvalleyproject.org. This program supports indigenous Peruvian girls from remote areas of the Andes receive a high school education.
Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, is handling arrangements.
Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.
