Obituary of Gregory Musumano

It is with great sorry that we announce the passing of Gregory L. Musumano on October 25, 2022. 

His three children were by his side when his spirit left his body to be reunited with the love of his life, his wife of 61 years, Joyce B. Musumano, who passed away January 2, 2022.

The first of six children, Gregory was born in Shinnston, West Virginia on November 22, 1935 to his parents Julia Rose (Allawatt) Musumano and Patsy M. Musumano. They chose to leave the coal mines and relocate their family to Bristol, CT. when Gregory was a baby - so Patsy could work (two shifts) at New Departure Manufacturing - which he did until his well-earned retirement decades later.  

Members of their extended family soon followed in Pat and Julia’s footsteps, and Gregory spoke fondly of this time in his life when his family was poor and their house was overcrowded, but they were very happy.  He learned generosity and love of family as a small child from the example set by his parents.

Basketball played a formative role in Gregory’s life. He often joyfully recounted playing in an exhibition match at half time at Madison Square Garden for the Bristol Boys Club as a young boy. He scored the team’s 4 points and the BBC team was victorious.

Gregory attended St. Anthony’s Grammar School and was in the first graduating class of St. Anthony’s High School in 1953. Always popular, Gregory was the freshman and senior class president. As a senior, his St. Anthony’s team swept the annual New England Small Catholic High Schools Basketball Tournament to clinch the title.  “Mr Moose”, as the girls called him, found great happiness later as the coach for St Joseph’s Grammar School Girls’ Championship Basketball team - his daughter Jen played guard just like her daddy.  Greg wowed his kids often with his “famous” three point hook shot. 

Upon graduating from high school, Greg enlisted in the US Army. Private Musumano served in the elite 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale in Colorado where he was trained to defend the country in the event of an attack on U.S. soil. Training was physically challenging with the men often sleeping outdoors in the snow. He learned to ski and mountain climb and loved the comradery of military life.  Gregory was proud of his military service and his identity as a veteran.

In 1957, Gregory trained to be a barber, and opened a barber shop in the Bristol Plaza with his brother Patsy. In 1969, Gregory competed in the U.S. national competition, “The Spectacular” where the Connecticut team took first place and the right to compete internationally.  Gregory also won the Skulptur Cut Gold Medal for Mens’ Razor Cutting. 

On April 15, 1961 Gregory married Joyce after several years of dating and dancing to the live bands that performed at Lake Compounce. As family lore has it, Greg saw Joyce while driving with his mother in downtown Bristol and said, “I’m going to marry that girl”. In 1964, the couple were doubly blessed with twin sons, Kevin and Kristopher. Sixteen months later, they were triply blessed with the birth of their daughter Jennifer, who, to Greg’s delight is very much his clone. haha.

In the mid-70’s Gregory changed professions and began developing land and building custom homes. He built many houses in Farmington, Burlington, and Simsbury and loved the profession. He took naturally to it and could run his projects simply, with a pad of yellow lined paper and a pen. He would later build houses with his childhood friend Marcel Leclair outside of Atlanta GA, and with his brother Patsy and sister-in-law, Donna “Princess” Musumano in Naples Florida.

One of the highlights of Greg’s life was the night he and Joyce, and Patsy and Carmel hit the jackpot and saw Frank Sinatra’s first performance after coming out of retirement. Caesar’s Palace was the venue and because a friend from Bristol worked there, the 4 of them were seated right up front- sharing their table with Hollywood Movie Stars like Rosalind Russell and Sinatra’s bodyguard. They left the concert via the Red Carpet often laughing later at the idea that the paparazzi must have wondered who they were !?! It was one of the best nights of their lives.

While we all know “Wednesdays are Prince Spaghetti days”, for this Italian American, Wednesdays were Chippanee Country Club days- Greg loved his rat pack of about a dozen irreverent fun loving guys who spent the day golfing (around the buffalos), followed by dinner and rounds and rounds of late night cards. To Gregory’s Chippanee buddies- most of whom have passed before him- Cut the deck guys, Greg’s back.

To say Greg was a loving and generous father is an understatement. He gave his kids the freedom to explore the world and encouraged them to follow their bliss. He was determined that they have more opportunity than he had. 

Greg and Joyce’s three children would like to thank their dear father for the love and care he gave to their mom in her final years . He taught them through his example what it means to love.

A celebration of Greg’s life will be held on Saturday April 15, 2023 at St Joseph’s Cemetery, 522 Terryville Ave, Bristol, Ct.

For obituary, online guest book and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net .

In Lieu of flowers, a donation in honor of Gregory L. Musumano may be made to Mercy Ships who provide urgent medical care to people around the world with no access to life saving care.  www.MERCYSHIPS.org