Happy 80th Joe! Cent' Anni!

Joe, Joe, Joe.... How do I summarize about 46 years of shared experiences and stories?

You are the supreme storyteller, and we take great pleasure and mirth not only in your many stories but also in your delivery of them. You are a gifted orator and stand-up comedian. Given your decades of leadership in your career, you were the guy who made the introductions, led the meetings, gave the keynote addresses, power-brokered with politicians, defended your grant requests, and filled the gaps between agendas and speakers. You are deft at this.

You deliver your personal stories—like growing up in Gioia del Colle, where a beloved pet became a holiday dinner, or small animals jumped off the roofs of buildings—in such a way that the listener can see these events unfold as if we are watching a movie. Other very personal experiences have us in stitches, such as your misunderstanding of who your doctor was addressing with directions (was it "Higher" or "Push away"?) as you were being examined! Stories like these and your delivery are hilarious!

On a serious note, you are a valued expert in your field. You led a huge mental health organization for several decades, helping countless individuals as patients and clients. You helped others get jobs, sometimes their first job, which then grew into fruitful careers. You always stepped up to guide members of our families, friends, and friends-of-friends who were in crisis. During the most chaotic and anxious times, you were a calm advisor and gave hope. We thank you for this.

You are the father of six girls, who are strong, intelligent, successful women with beautiful lives and families of their own now. When Bigi and you married, the Grossi family grew in a wonderful way and enriched our lives.

Special times that come to mind are years of vacationing together at Barnegat Light on LBI. What pure joy and fun we had together! Great beach houses, full days at the beach, "Old Barney" lighthouse, tandem bike riding, miniature golf, Fantasy Island amusement park, the waterpark, delicious meals, DQ, Show Time Ice Cream Parlor, Andy's, White's, Okie's, Anchor and Frank's Produce, Surf City Bakery, Kubel's, Kelly's... on and on.

One very scary LBI experience that comes to mind was during the summer of 1991 when we all (you, Bigi, Chiara, Emily, Gina, Sandy, Cristina, Ceil, Dennis, Megan, Patrick, Katie, Oscar and Peppi, Vinnie, and I) rode out Hurricane Bob while at our rented beach house on High Bar Harbor, which neighbored Barnegat Light. High Bar Harbor is just that—a development of fingers of land with houses built out into Barnegat Bay. We watched, starting in the early morning, the white-capped bay through floor-to-ceiling windows that fierce winds battered. The storm spanned many anxious hours. Thank God we made it through that terrifying experience, especially all the small, precious children who were with us and who hopefully do not remember any of it.

Thank you, Joe, for hosting us for Sunday dinners and huge holiday celebrations. A meal at the Masciandaro home is a guarantee of an extraordinary culinary experience: delicious dishes served over many courses and hours. Food is lovingly prepared and represents traditions carried forward through generations.

I must add my thanks to your parents, who warmly welcomed Vincent and me to their family. We spent many delightful Sunday dinners with them, you all, and Peppi and Oscar. Sometimes it was just your parents, Vincent, and me since we lived in NYC, and we jumped at the chance to enjoy a lovely dinner with them. The beautiful Belnord apartment complex on the Upper West Side of Manhattan was such a fun part of the experience of visiting your parents.

Your mom was a talented seamstress and had clients in the complex. By then, your dad was retired from his barber shop business, with clients like Rodney Dangerfield, and was working as a security guard in a building near the NY Public Library Main Branch/Bryant Park, if my memory serves me. They shared with us some of the building gossip, introduced us to their friends, Lilian and Margo (but not at the same time!), and took care of their doormen, sending food down to them. They are very much remembered with love.

Many more happy times I hope and look forward to experiencing together. While I only scratched the surface of some 46-plus years, I hope you enjoy reading this and reminiscing with me.

In closing, thank you, Joe, for everything you did and do for Vincent, me, Micaela, and now also Chris and Mia, who are joyfully added to our family.

HAPPY 80th, JOE!!! CENT'ANNI!