Anthony "Tony" Mascena
Passed away on March 3, 2023 peacefully in his home surrounded by family. Tony was the devoted husband of 60 years to Jill (nee Danch); beloved Father of Amy (Shaun Irons) Mascena; Megan (Sammy) Gaspar and Scott (Michelle) Mascena; adoring Grandfather of Frida Gaspar, Johnny and Joey Mascena; Dear son of the late Stephen and Emily Mascena, brother of Nancy (the late John) Josephs and the late Stephen (Marcia) Mascena; Son-in-law of the late Gabriel and Marianne Danch. Brother-in-law of Sally (John) Sherron, Jonathan Danch and Bonnie (Chuck) Bell. He is remembered with love by many nieces and nephews.
Tony enjoyed friendships from many decades of a long and beautiful life.
Tony was a child of 1st generation Italian immigrants in Bristol, Rhode Island and grew up in a tight family-oriented community. He proudly attended the University of Pennsylvania on (full) scholarship where he met his “bride” (as he always called her!) Jill, a nursing student at nearby Jefferson School of Nursing. They married, lived and raised their children in Haddonfield, NJ. They enjoyed visiting Tony’s family in Bristol for Fourth of July celebrations and Thanksgiving dinners in his parents’ basement. Traditional Sunday dinners were always at Jill’s parents’ house. These were joyous events, surrounded by extended family and delicious food. Summers were spent with their kids and grandkids sharing their beloved beach cottage in Ocean City, NJ with days on the sand and meals on the back porch. They visited favorite restaurants with Amy & Shaun in Brooklyn and loved traveling to Los Angeles to sit in the sunshine with Megan, Sammy & Frida. Many sporting and band events were enjoyed with Scott and Michelle to cheer on Johnny and Joey. They made a grand tour of Italy to meet Tony’s distant Sicilian relatives and enjoyed winter vacations in Florida later in life.
Tony was one of the first Fire Protection Engineers in New Jersey. He had a fulfilling career starting at Stone & Webster then transitioning to consulting work with his last position at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
Tony and Jill made friends wherever they went and had long-time friends from all the decades of their lives and the many neighborhoods they lived in.
Tony had a strong and personal faith. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield for over 50 years, he served as a deacon and elder for many years. He was also an active volunteer at the Open-Door clinic at St. Wilfrid’s Church and New Vision homeless shelter in Camden, NJ.
He loved a good joke and a hearty laugh; watching the sun set over the bay and The Three Stooges; enjoyed chocolate and a thick steak; listening to The Platters, Johnny Mathis, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Always had a piece of gum in his mouth and a pen in his shirt pocket.
Tony’s family will receive friends on Sat. March 11, 2023 from 9:30-10:45am at the First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, 20 Kings Hwy E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 where his service will follow at 11am. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in Anthony’s name may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield at the above address.