MICHAEL LAWRENCE MASTRACCI (Age 90)
On Friday, November 1, 2019, of Rockville, MD. Beloved husband of Rosemary Mastracci; father of Anne (Paul) Henig, Mark (Martha) Mastracci, Joan (Gordon) Anson, Susan (Dennis) Casey and Matthew (KC) Mastracci; brother of Lawrence (June) Mastracci; grandfather of Sara, Bridget, Billy, Allyson, Julia, Gordy, Leigh, John, Elizabeth, Caroline, Luke, Michael, Sam, Lena and Kate; great-grandfather of Kaitlyn and RJ. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), on Thursday, November 7, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church, 4101 Norbeck Road, Rockville, MD, on Friday, November 8, at 10:30 am. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.
MICHAEL L. MASTRACCI OBITUARY
Michael (Mike) Mastracci was born on April 18, 1929, to Rosato and Anna Maria Grecco Mastracci. His parents emigrated from Arnara, Italy, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael was born at home – the first born son, following sisters Mamie and Rita, and preceding his younger brother Larry. He was born six months prior to the Great Depression, which greatly influenced his life. Mike knew his family could not afford to send him to college. The vast majority of men in America were going to college with the GI bill, but few were taking advantage of Senatorial scholarships. Recognizing this untapped opportunity, Mike’s high test scores merited him a Senatorial scholarship to attend the University of Maryland in College Park. As his scholarship did not include room and board, Mike hitchhiked every day from Baltimore to College Park. Amazingly, he was able to earn his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in three years.
After graduation in 1950, Mike began his career as an engineer for the Navy. In 1955, he enlisted in the Army to keep his current job as a missile designer. Due to his exceptional engineering skills, he was assigned to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. He worked on various projects, including the Honest John rocket – the first nuclear-capable surface-to-surface rocket in the United States arsenal.
In 1956, he married the lovely Rosemary Hanratty and they were married for 63 years. In 1957, Mike’s career took him to Connecticut where he worked for American Machine and Foundry (AMF). Mike and Rosemary’s first four children were born in Connecticut and Mike took great pride in building their first house in Greenwich. In 1964, AMF and the Mastracci clan moved to York, Pennsylvania, where youngest son Matthew joined the family in 1968. By 1969, Mike’s career took him to Washington, DC, and the family moved to Rockville, Maryland. In 1971, Mike took a position with the newly established United States Environmental Protection Agency and served as Regional District Manager until his retirement in 1994. By the completion of his career, he held five patents.
Mike was a true patriarch and extremely loyal to his entire family. He took great pride in the family he and Rosemary created.
