Obituary of Giuseppe Giovanni D'Amato

Giuseppe Giovanni D'Amato, 76, of West Roxbury (Boston), MA, died peacefully Saturday, May 23, 2015, at home, after two years of declining health. Known as Peppe to his family in Italy and Joes to his family and friends in the U.S., Giuseppe was born June 26, 1938 in Salerno, Italy, the youngest son of Raffaele D'Amato and Maria Felice Brigante. He is survived by Mary Jo Iozzio, his wife of (almost) twenty-one years; his brother Mario of Bologna, Italy; nieces and nephews: Marissa, Raffaele, and Rocco; Raffaele, Nicola, and Anna; Francesco, Rosario, Antonello, and Anna; Antonella and Teresa; Sandra, Fabio, and Marco; 18 great nieces and nephews, and one great-great nephew. Giuseppe was predeceased by his first wife, Margherita (Lorusso) D'Amato of Alberobello, Italy, and his brothers Gaetano, Nicola known as Luigi, Liberato, Clemente, and Cosimo. Giuseppe came to the U.S. in 1982 and settled in Paterson with Margherita. He moved to Miramar, FL, in 1994 with Mary Jo, then to Hollywood, FL in 1998. They moved to Boston in 2013. He was a master cabinetmaker—an Ebonista—for fifty years, first in Bologna with his brother Mario, with whom he received by Referendum Italia Regioni the Aquila D'Oro, Azienda Premiata (the "Gold Eagle," presented to the premier business, region of Emilia-Romagna). Once in the U.S., he worked ten years at Greenbaum Interiors, Paterson, restoring and reproducing fine furniture; his work there included a redesign of the ingenious Robert Jupe Expanding Radial Table (British patent year 1835), featuring a refined opening mechanisms and a preference for veneer of patterned crushed mahogany over mahogany. (He made 45 of these tables!) Once in Florida, he worked seven years at Broward Marine of Ft. Lauderdale, crafting interior cabinetry and furnishings for mega yachts. In 1996, he opened "Maestro del Legno," his own cabinet shop until his retirement in 2007. Giuseppe delighted in the new craft, culture, and cuisine that came with national and international travel. He was often surprised by how remarkable is his home country—and by how few Italians are aware of its riches, especially those found in remote villages. Visits to the Trentino-Alto Adige and the Amalfi Coast were almost annual, yet always brought something new. And a single trip to Sicily provided an appreciation for its diversity. Turkey was a highlight, and perhaps most exotic tour, because of its history, the extraordinary hospitality of its people, and natural beauty. (On a pitch-black journey from Istanbul to Assos, he joked that it might be a final taxi ride, only to discover in the morning that the hotel sat on a precipice beyond which was the deep blue Aegean; on that same trip, in the Istanbul bazaar, he quipped that the Turks mistook him for a compatriot and Mary Jo for his African wife.) He cherished as well trips to the National Parks of Alaska, Arizona, California, the District of Colombia, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and Washington. Happily, he was able to make a final visit to Italy over Christmas to embrace and express his love for his family. Generously, over the years, he welcomed family members to NJ and south FL. Just a few weeks ago, his great nephew Gaetano visited him in Boston, days heart-filled and life- and love- affirming. He spoke as often as he could with Mario, Raffaele (Bolzano), Raffaele (Salerno), and Maria (the wife of his late brother Clemente). With tender mercies, his final days were filled with calls and emails from friends and loved ones across the globe, as well as many visits with friends and colleagues from Boston College and cousins Kristin (K.C.) Cutrona and Margaret Vigorito. Appreciatively, he received fine nursing care by Joanne Dolan, R.N., of Seasons Hospice, Newton, MA. Gratefully, as his usually giddy beagle dog Maynard remained calmly near him, Mary Jo cared for his bodily integrity, spiritual reconciliation, and full human dignity until his last breath. Visiting hours will be 6-9 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2015 at the funeral home. The funeral will be Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Mass at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Consolation R.C. Church, 1799 Hamburg Tpke, Wayne. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Giuseppe D'Amato's name are encouraged to Catholic Theological Ethicists in the World Church (http://www.catholicethics.com): Jesuit Community at Boston College/CTEWC c/o Jim Keenan, SJ 246 Beacon Street Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 USA