Obituary of Joseph Michael Mantia

Joseph Michael Mantia, 66 years old, of Burlington, MA passed away on May 4, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Quincy and grew up in Somerville. Mike, as his friends called him, met his wife Susan when she moved to Boston to study at Northeastern University in 1973.  They got married in 1980 and started a life in Burlington where they raised their three children. He was passionate about Boston sports. In his early years, he often found creative ways to get into the Garden to watch the Celtics and later owned season tickets during the Larry Bird era. He enjoyed frequent Red Sox games and tailgating for the Patriots at Foxborough. He had a long 46-year career at Mac-Gray Corporation, starting as a delivery man at age 20 while taking evening courses at Northeastern University. He later worked to develop smart card technology in the U.S. and then rose to a top sales manager.

Above all else, Mike worked tirelessly to put his family first. He will be remembered as the most generous and devoted father. From attending sporting events to helping with school projects to traveling around the country to look at colleges, Mike would drop anything to help his children. He was proud that he and Susan put their three children through private college education and was often heard bragging about their many accomplishments. 

Mike loved finding any reason to celebrate with family and friends.  Whether it was a major life event or minor accomplishment, he enjoyed gathering everyone together for endless food and drinks. One of his favorite activities was monthly Sunday breakfast with his lifelong friends, “The Skunks.” Mike also loved traveling with family to warm weather destinations, including the Outer Banks, Aruba, and his favorite cruising the British Virgin Islands.

Mike was passionate about woodworking, converting his two car garage into his beloved workshop. As a self-taught craftsman, he worked on countless projects including custom kitchen cabinets, ornate fences, and a large deck on which he could gather his friends and family at a moment’s notice.  Mike was known as the master fix-it man. He could build or repair almost anything in the house and often roped his wife, Sue, into assisting with his master plans.  He was called upon many of times by friends and family to help with their household projects.

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Susan (McMullen) Mantia and three children, Dr. Charlene Mantia and her husband Eli Edson of Melrose, Keith Mantia of S. Boston, and Jennifer Mantia and her fiancée Jeffrey Dougherty of Milltown, NJ.  Proud grandfather of Kinsley Edson.  Son of the late Joan (MacMillan) and William Durant.  Brother of Karen Lorenz of Somerville, and Janet and her husband Richard McCool of Woburn.  He was the brother-in-law of Margaret & George Cherny of Raleigh, NC, Sandra & William Dubovick of Lincroft, NJ, Steven & Jeanette McMullen of E. Brunswick, NJ, and William McMullen of Glen Gardner, NJ.  He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and beloved friends. 

A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Tuesday, May 7 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 8 at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with burial in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield. Memorials for “Joseph Mantia of Burlington, MA" may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for Leukemia Research, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284, or via www.dana-farber.org/gift. For directions, obituary & online guestbook see www.stmargaretburlington.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net