We have sort of been mourning my dad for 14 years.  Mourning the man he was before his stroke,  mourning the life he could have had, mourning some of the joy he was robbed of.  It always  made me sad to look at pictures of him before his stroke. I used to tell my kids how the pop they know is not who he always was. 

But today, instead of mourning, I’d like to celebrate the man he was, the man I like to remember fondly. The man who our friends fondly called Pop Mauro.

My dad was the quintessential family man.  He always put family first. He enjoyed spending time with his family. 

He had the utmost respect for the elders of the family, and did anything they asked, (his nickname was the favorite.....shhhh, don’t tell anyone.. sorry Uncle Tom and Aunt Laura… but we all know that was the worst kept secret. Nanny, Aunt Gerry, Aunt Ro would light up when he was around. They fondly called him Johnny.  If you needed him, he’d be there without hesitation and help in any way he could. 

My dad thought the world of his girls and couldn’t have been prouder when his daughters graduated college and that he and my mom were able to pay for it.  

My dad was meticulous about his appearance. He would spend as much time getting ready in the bathroom that could rival his two teenage daughters.  When he left the bathroom after the hour he spent in there, you could gag on the cologne fumes. 

My dad also had quite the sense of humor... a favorite story of mine...when he gave me away at my wedding....(you know that meaningful moment when a dad gives his daughter away...) he shook hands with tony and snarkily whispered...”for the rest of your life, Tony... the rest of your life!!” This was an ongoing joke from the day we got engaged... because....well.... those of you who know me well, know I’m not always so pleasant... so it was more of a sympathetic warning.

 He gave us the best childhood filled with great memories, and even imparted great memories on our friends who still speak fondly of him…. they were an extension of our family... everyone was always welcome at the Mauro house or on a Mauro vacation....the more, the merrier...  My dad would come home from work to a house full of teenage girls, and he loved it. My dad was dad to all of our friends.  

My dad, as kind and loving as he was, was also known to get irritated quickly about certain things.  We endearingly remember him on an agitated phone call telling someone on the other end he was going to blow his stack. 

He was also known to make a complaining phone call to the NYC Dept of Sanitation about garbage not being picked up and telling the person on the other end... “Hello, this is John Mauro of Matthews Ave.”. Like he was the mayor and they should know who he is!! We still joke about that!!

His sense of humor stayed with him and when I’d drive my husband crazy would utter.... “the rest of your life Tony... for the rest of your life....I warned you”...and snicker! I cherish all of those stories and memories. My dad showed everyone how it was done!!!

My dad could fix anything, He would go into his garage and build anything if you asked. If a neighbor needed a tool, he had it. 

He would meticulously clean his car like it was a vintage model,

Unfortunately he was robbed of his golden years the way he would’ve liked to live them out, but he still loved his family and thought the world of his 5 grandkids, and loved family get togethers. We will miss him dearly and know that he is surrounded by all of our departed family members who are joyfully celebrating with him now.