Joseph Mario Cassarino of Monkton, Vermont died peacefully at Green Mountain Rehabilitation and Nursing in Colchester on March 14, 2025.
Joe (Papa) was born in Middlebury on January 24,1935 to John and Caroline Cassarino. He graduated from Middlebury High School in 1952 and from photography school in Woodstock in 1959. After working briefly on the Rutland railroad, he joined the US Air Force and served honorably for 4 years.
Joe met the love of his life, Janet, at a barn dance in Whiting, VT which he attended after he marched in the 4th of July parade as part of the Color Guard. This began their 65-year journey together.
Joe and Janet were married in 1960 and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where he worked for several years at Loring Photography studio before moving back to Vermont. In Vermont he worked at Simmonds Precision, General Electric and IBM where he retired after a long career in Failure Analysis. In addition to his career, Joe was a long-time member of the American Legion post 27 in Middlebury Vermont.
Joe’s passions were; family, photography, music and golf. He could be found at almost every sports or musical event that his children or grandchildren participated in. Always with a camera or a video recorder in hand. He has taken thousands of pictures and recorded countless hours of video leaving a beautiful legacy for his family to enjoy.
Joe was predeceased by brothers, Paul (Madeline) and Alfred (Audrey) and sisters, Agatha Morrow (Frank) and Janet Handy (Bob).
Joe is survived by his wife Janet (Gebo), his children and their spouses, Paul (Tracie Hier), Maria (Michael Dionne), Michael (Jennifer Rhodes) as well as his grandchildren, Nicholas Cassarino (Erin Boyd), Joshua Cassarino (Crystal Rivera), Natalie Wimett (Cali Shamburg Wimett) and Andrew Cassarino and Alex Dionne Bahrenburg (Pete Bahrenburg) as well as many nieces and nephews.
In memory of Joe, please take a picture or video, hug the ones you love, and play a round of golf.
Visiting hours will be on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Brown/McClay Funeral Home in Bristol, Vermont from 5-7PM. A Catholic Rite of Committal will take place on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at St. Joseph Cemetery in Bristol at 11AM. To read the obituary or send online condolence to his family please visit www.brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com
5 Responses
Our thoughts are with the family. Joe and Janet welcomed us to their farm when we first arrived in Vermont with our 2 sons, Brent (4) and Ben (2j. We had no relatives there and developed many IBM friendships over the years. We cross country skiied across Monkton Pond in the winter and gathered there as new employees were hired into the failure analysis depart. We have memories of sitting around the kitchen table and eating cake with Janet and Joe with our 2 sons. Our hearts are saddened by the news of Joe’s passing. He was an awesome fella.
Cassarino Family,
Please accept my condolences at this very difficult time for you all. I was lucky enough to have worked at IBM with Joe for many years and share a lot of laughs and many fun times along the way. Best … Fred Parks
Dear Janet & Family, My deepest sympathies on Cousin Joe’s passing. He certainly lived a beautiful life surrounded by talented and lovely children and grandchildren. It was nice we got to see you after many years at my niece’s Connie’s home. Again, sorry for your loss. Lots of Love, Ida & Vinny Bonasia
So sorry Janet for your loss of Joe. Our sympathy to you and your family. Howard and Linda Kelton
We are so sorry for the loss of Joe, our prayers and sympathy are with you and your family… Deanna & Rodney Boise..