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Page 362: Jack Casella Paterno Eulogy
Eulogy In Celebration of the Life of Jack Casella Paterno
October 29, 1918 – January 26, 2002
In the golden waning hours of beautiful Saturday last, I was privileged and honored to be present for a truly inspirational life event. I was at our courageous Father’s side as he fought the Good Fight when – with a smile, a tear, and a sigh – his suddenly unfettered Soul board into the crimson light of sunset on its final journey to eternity – that same awesome journey each and everyone one of us will someday make. No longer burdened by the debilitating aftermath of the stoke he endured for so long and so bravely – never complaining, he is now at peace and free at last. He was our friend, our mentor, devoted husband and beloved father of ten. We should cherish the many many happy times we had with him and take solace in the fact that he is with us always and everywhere. Throughout Life’s specious journey he was forever kind, gentle, and passionately devoted to his family, his friends, all God’s creatures, his Country, and his beautiful ancestral Italy. H took great interest in helping our native Castelmezzano prosper.
As a measure of his fidelity, I just last night learned from our beloved Mother that while she and Dad were married for sixty-two years, they had been sweethearts for more than sixty-four years. This has to be some kind of record!
I vividly remember when I was a fledgling aviator how Dad would fearlessly accompany me in the cramped back seat of a tiny Piper Cub – as Lon as we flew very low and over his favorite golf course! He even went so far as to start learning to fly himself until he was caught red0handed by his caring loving spouse who promptly reminded him in no uncertain terms that flying was not a fitting activity for the loving father of ten. Every time I flew an airliner to Milano or Roma he knew I was safe and in good hands on the beautiful shores of Laggo Maggiore or the Tiber River because I was back in the homeland.
Today is a celebration of the wonder life of JACK CASELLA PATERNO – accomplished Real estate Executive, avid golfer, skilled yachtsman, and intense Civil War buff – along with heartfelt acknowledgement of the multitude of gifts he so selflessly bestowed upon us all. Rather than sadness we should feel great joy for he is home at last with the Supreme Father and Mother of All Creation. He will always remain alive in our hearts for Love is the big between the Living and the Dead. Free of pain and suffering he can now nimbly soar the windswept heights with legions of angels over the luminous summits of Truth. His life truly epitomizes the venerable Cistercian motto of “All for Jesus – through Mary – with a smile.”
The quiet serene mausoleum where his mortality will be laid to rest this afternoon has a beautiful stained glass window depicting our Blessed Mother and bearing the inscription, “When dawn beaks and the shadows flee away.” On that fine day we will all be reunited forever in eternity. So rejoice in his life and all the good he did while here among us. Let him be an example for us all. I know he will forever be my inspiration! Sleep well, Sweet Prince. Until we meet again….
By Jack C. Paterno, Jr., Eldest Son
At Funeral Mass, St. John Neumann Church, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, 10:00 AM, January 29, 2022
Page 363: Jack Casella Paterno Obituary
JACK CAELLA PATERNO – REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE
Jack Casella Paterno, formerly of Greenwich, Connecticut, died Saturday, January 26, 2022, in Mt. Holly, NJ., after a long illness. He was eighty-three.
Mr. Paterno was a graduate of Princeton University, Class of 1940. During World War II, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Field Artillery and participated in the Aleutian Islands Campaign.
After the war, Mr. Paterno joined the family real estate business, Paterno Brother, Inc. of NYC, which was founded by his late father, Joseph Paterno, and his late uncle, Dr. Charles Paterno. Over a period of more than fifty years, the Paterno family built many landmark NYC residential buildings, including a number of building on Park Avenue and Riverside Drive, as well as the Castle Village Cooperative apartment complex in upper Manhattan.
Mr. Paterno, a resident of Greenwich, CT for forty-six years, was an avid golfer, yachtsman, and Civil War buff. For many years he was a member of the Greenwich, Westchester, and Oyster Harbors and Woodway Country Clubs. He recorded four holes-in-one.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Ruth J. MacInnis Paterno of Lumberton, NJ and ten children: Col. Jack C. Paterno, Jr., (USAF (Ret.) of Lumberton NJ, Dr. Jacqueline Paterno Kirby of Rocky Hill, CT, Babetta Paterno Ferris of Castle Rock, CO, Cynthia Paterno Cody of Jupiter, FL, Dr. Melissa Paterno Schori of Riverdale, NY, Barry Paterno of Soup Tamworth, NH, Robert Paterno of Richmond, VA, Christina Paterno Smit of Mt. Laurel, NJ, Peter Paterno of Lake Stevens, WA, and Gregory Paterno of Simi Valley, CA. Mr. Paterno is also survived by twenty-one grandchildren.
Interment will be in the Paterno family mausoleum, Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY on Tuesday, January 29, 2022. Private services will be held in the cemetery chapel for family members only. Charitable contributions in hi memory may be made to the Casa Italiana Cultural Center at Columbia University.
Obituary by Frank Kirby
Family members listed on Page 364: Jack Casella Paterno, Ruth J. Paterno, Jack C. Paterno, Jr., Jacqueline Paterno Kirby, Frank Kirby, Jake Kirby, Karla Henwood, Babetta Paterno Ferris, James Ferris, Paul Ferris, Mark Ferris, Jonathan Ferris, Cynthia Paterno Cody, Phil Cody, Melissa Paterno Schori, Moshe Schori, Rebecca Schori, Benjamin Schori, Bella Schori, Eitan Schori, Barry Paterno, Nina Paterno Smith, Jack Smith, Jacqui Smith, Amber Smith, Peter Paterno
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