This memorial website was created in memory of our loved father, grandfather and great grandfather, Joseph Zinno, 98, born on May 29, 1917 and passed away on June 6, 2015. We will remember him forever.
Friends and family are invited to attend a tribute on June 27th at 10 AM. See address below.
Joe's loving wife Clara (née Mosca), his daughter Janice Allen and her husband Richard, his son Richard (Dick) and his wife Mary Ann mourn his loss along with their children Jennifer (Allen) Arnett, Jessica (Zinno) Leatherman, Jeremy Zinno and Marcella (Zinno) Rolwes. Ten great grandchildren will remember Great Grandpa as a kind man who gave them sugar donuts and delighted in watching them play.
“Joe”, as his friends called him or "Pipi" as his family knew him, will be greatly missed by family and friends in R.I. where he and Clara lived until retirement in 1982. He was one of ten children, and is survived by one sister, Alice Geohagan; two sisters-in-law: Barbara Zinno, and Norma Mosca; and two brothers-in-law: Peter Marino and Norman Mancone, along with a host of nieces and nephews from the Mosca and Zinno families.
His friends knew him as an honorable, gregarious, proud man who loved both family and friends and would offer a hand to anyone in need. He was a World War II veteran, earning the rank of Master Sergeant, and a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. He willingly served his country and his community, and lived by the codes of honor of both the U.S. Army and the Catholic Church.
Upon his retirement from his business, Esquire Dental Lab, he moved to Camarillo, CA where he and Clara lived for 25 years. He lived life in retirement as he did during his working years, fully and deliberately. He loved traveling, gardening and golf, entertaining friends, and hosting family members from the East Coast. He donated hundreds of hours to “feeding the masses”, cooking cauldrons of pasta fagiole or grilling Italian sausage to fundraise for St. Mary Magdalene parish, and spent hours in the growing fields of the Oxnard Plain adjacent to his home filling baskets of fresh vegetables for the underprivileged in his community through a volunteer organization, “Food Share”.
Joe loved all of his grandchildren unconditionally. He and Clara supported all of them in all they did, flying between California and Texas to attend every baptism, school play, dance recital, birthday party, and graduation. He taught his children and grandchildren the ethic of hard work and fairness, while spoiling them with his love at the same time.
At the age of ninety, Joe moved his household once more to spend some quality time with his son and his family in Texas. He was a “fully present” father throughout the lives of his children, often foregoing his own comfort for theirs. He was fiercely proud of his family, his heritage and most importantly his wife and their joint accomplishments.
The celebration of his life was held on June 10th at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fort Worth, TX.
On June 27th at 10 AM, a Catholic mass in memoriam will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Chapel, 2532 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, California. Joseph will be interred at Valley Oaks - Griffin Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, California, near his beloved granddaughter, Kimberley.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent in Joe’s honor to the Knights of Columbus:
Adolfo Camarillo Council 5272
PO Box 2197
Camarillo CA 93011-2197
Condolences may be sent to Clara Zinno, The Westmore, Apartment 122, 25 Leonard Trail, Westworth Village, Texas, 76114.
May 29th is a day we all remember. Dad's birthday was important to him. He loved receiving messages from his family and friends. His favorite gift was always a phone call or better yet, a visit.
Ten years ago while we celebrated Jen & Garrett's wedding with our R.I. family in Newport, RI, we also had a giant chocolate cake to celebrate Dad's 89th birthday. Dad had a wonderful time that day!
Today we would be celebrating his 99th birthday. I'd like to believe that he is surrounded with friends and his many family members who preceded him to heaven.
We miss you, Dad, but we know that somewhere you are at peace, and young again!
My Uncle Pipi will always be remembered as a wonderful, loving, compassionate,
intelligent,and humble man.
One fond memory I have of my Uncle Pipi was spending The Fourth of July on the boat watching the beautiful fireworks up in the sky.
His family was always top priority for him. Almost neighbors in R.I., my family frequently visited Uncle Pipi and Auntie Clara, and as a young girl, I always looked forward to seeing them.
Another memory of Uncle Pipi is actually one that shows how sharp as a tack he was even at 88 years old. Jan and I laughed about this one. In 2010, I had an Anniversary party for my mom and dad in R.I. Uncle Pipi pointed out that the address on the invitation (which by the way was on Charles Street in Providence, R.I.) was wrong! Instead of 1113 Charles Street, the invitation had incorrectly printed 113 Charles Street. He remembered the number of his parents house on Charles Street, and knew that the Restaurant could not be 113!! He immediately pointed the mistake out to Janice. We all laughed at how he was so quick to point it out.
He so loved his family an his friends in R.I., CA, and TX. He loved people and lived his life to the fullest and he will be greatly missed.
Love,
Susan
First, I want to express my sincere condolonces to Jan, Rich, Jen, and the Zinno family on your loss. Despite being blessed with your dad for so many years, it is never easy when a loved one passes.
Jan has been a respected colleague, a business partner, a friend, and in many ways like a second mom to me. I will never forget the day Jan came to me, with a chuckle in her voice, to tell me that at 90 years old, her mom and dad decided to move to Texas! Being in the moving business(and from my own experience) I know how stressful moving is. Well, Jan, with all her years of industry experience, told me that while she would make connections, recommendations, and suggestions to her dad, he was the "boss" and the one in control! And so I was passed along to Mr. Zinno and got the opportunity to "meet" him. From the start, Joe started telling me about his plans, and some of the suggestions "Janice" had told him but he was going to make the decisions on what he wanted to keep and move. We talked many times throughout the process not only about the move but Mr. Zinno shared many stories with me that I will always remember. During the actual move days, Mr. Zinno was engaged with the crew and they commented to me on how remarkable he was. On the day of loading he was out with the driver (he had just got his new tractor/trailer) and Mr. Zinno was loooking all around, asking questions, commenting about some of the new features on the truck and he left an impression with the driver too.
Once the move was over all Mr. Zinno was concerned with was making sure his bill was paid! It was my pleasure to have helped Mr. and Mrs. Zinno with their move and to have had the chance to meet with them, if only over the phone. He impacted me with his courage and endurance to take on such a big move so late in life and having the opportunity to know Jan, he did a great job raising a wonderful family.
Thoughts, prayers, and fond memories to you all.
Sincerely, Anthony Frangione, Roseland, NJ
