1926
Joseph
2015
Joseph James "Spirit" Cuzic
September 3, 1926 — May 11, 2015
Joseph James "Spirit" Cuzic, 88
FAIRFIELD, CALIF. - Joseph was born in Carbon, Pennsylvania, Sept. 3, 1926, the son of John Nicholas Cuzic and Alice Harrod Cuzic. Joseph grew up, lived, and worked in the Youngstown, Ohio, area for many years. He passed away at his home in Fairfield, California, on May 11, 2015.
Joe was very proud of his service in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. He saw combat during World War II in the Pacific Theatre, especially the Philippines and Saipan. His Division was stationed in the harbor the day the Japanese signed the peace treaty, September 2, 1945, the day before his 19th birthday.
After the war, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Youngstown College, now Youngstown State University, and studied drafting and engineering. He became a Project and Design Engineer for Youngstown Sheet and Tube until 1964 when he moved his family to Walnut Creek, California. In California, he worked for US Steel in Pittsburg and C&H Sugar in Crockett. In the 1970s, he moved to St. Louis and was Plant Engineer for Certain-Teed Products and Resident Construction Engineer for Anheuser Busch Brewery. Then he moved back to California and was transferred to the Anheuser Busch Brewery in Van Nuys. When he retired, he moved to Fairfield, Calif. in 1989.
His wife, Dorothy "Dott" Owens, whom he married June 26, 1948, passed away June 8, 2009. Together they had a son David John Cuzic and a grandson John Owen Cuzic. He is also survived by his sister Madeline Cuzic of Boardman, Ohio, and his brother James Cuzic of Struthers, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Katherine Cuzic Young and Mary Louise Cuzic; and his brothers, infant John Jr., Frank Cuzic, and Daniel Cuzic.
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Joe's favorite football team was the San Francisco 49ers. Ironically, there was the Youngstown connection - Joe's home town and the DeBartolo's, too. He kept himself in great physical condition. He exercised, loved to play golf and was roller blading at 67! He had a lifelong love affair with cars. He drove, he raced, he did hill climbs, and he restored a 1966 Volvo to mint condition. He was an avid reader and enjoyed building models of cars and World War II planes and vehicles. He loved animals and cherished the companionship and devotion of three great dogs: first there was Buster, then Melody, and finally Dana.
Joe learned to play the harmonica at his father's knee. He played by ear and didn't read music or take lessons, and despite any lack of formal training Joe became a virtuoso on the harmonica. And in 1976, he and his 4-key harmonica along with the director of music at the St. Louis Cathedral, gave a Bicentennial Concert at the Cathedral featuring the massive pipe organ and Joe's harmonica which the St Louis Post Dispatch said, "wowed one and all."
Joe's active "Spirit" and zest for life will be sadly and deeply missed by his family and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on May 21, 2015, at Holy Spirit Church in Fairfield, California, to celebrate Joe's life. He was laid to rest with military honors at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California.
"I have loved you so...
'twas Heaven here with you...
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand."
Condolences may be sent to www.beckerobits.com .
FAIRFIELD, CALIF. - Joseph was born in Carbon, Pennsylvania, Sept. 3, 1926, the son of John Nicholas Cuzic and Alice Harrod Cuzic. Joseph grew up, lived, and worked in the Youngstown, Ohio, area for many years. He passed away at his home in Fairfield, California, on May 11, 2015.
Joe was very proud of his service in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. He saw combat during World War II in the Pacific Theatre, especially the Philippines and Saipan. His Division was stationed in the harbor the day the Japanese signed the peace treaty, September 2, 1945, the day before his 19th birthday.
After the war, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Youngstown College, now Youngstown State University, and studied drafting and engineering. He became a Project and Design Engineer for Youngstown Sheet and Tube until 1964 when he moved his family to Walnut Creek, California. In California, he worked for US Steel in Pittsburg and C&H Sugar in Crockett. In the 1970s, he moved to St. Louis and was Plant Engineer for Certain-Teed Products and Resident Construction Engineer for Anheuser Busch Brewery. Then he moved back to California and was transferred to the Anheuser Busch Brewery in Van Nuys. When he retired, he moved to Fairfield, Calif. in 1989.
His wife, Dorothy "Dott" Owens, whom he married June 26, 1948, passed away June 8, 2009. Together they had a son David John Cuzic and a grandson John Owen Cuzic. He is also survived by his sister Madeline Cuzic of Boardman, Ohio, and his brother James Cuzic of Struthers, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Katherine Cuzic Young and Mary Louise Cuzic; and his brothers, infant John Jr., Frank Cuzic, and Daniel Cuzic.
.
Joe's favorite football team was the San Francisco 49ers. Ironically, there was the Youngstown connection - Joe's home town and the DeBartolo's, too. He kept himself in great physical condition. He exercised, loved to play golf and was roller blading at 67! He had a lifelong love affair with cars. He drove, he raced, he did hill climbs, and he restored a 1966 Volvo to mint condition. He was an avid reader and enjoyed building models of cars and World War II planes and vehicles. He loved animals and cherished the companionship and devotion of three great dogs: first there was Buster, then Melody, and finally Dana.
Joe learned to play the harmonica at his father's knee. He played by ear and didn't read music or take lessons, and despite any lack of formal training Joe became a virtuoso on the harmonica. And in 1976, he and his 4-key harmonica along with the director of music at the St. Louis Cathedral, gave a Bicentennial Concert at the Cathedral featuring the massive pipe organ and Joe's harmonica which the St Louis Post Dispatch said, "wowed one and all."
Joe's active "Spirit" and zest for life will be sadly and deeply missed by his family and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on May 21, 2015, at Holy Spirit Church in Fairfield, California, to celebrate Joe's life. He was laid to rest with military honors at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California.
"I have loved you so...
'twas Heaven here with you...
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand."
Condolences may be sent to www.beckerobits.com .
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