Obituary of Joseph M. Cozzoli

Somerset: Joseph M. Cozzoli, age 88, until recently of Warren and West Point Island, died peacefully Sunday, February 22nd at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. The son of Frank and Marietta Lucchesi Cozzoli, he leaves his wife Martha of 57 years, a son Frank J. Cozzoli of Warren and three daughters, Joan Marie Rooney and husband Tom of Annandale, Carol Ann Zmuda and husband Henry of Niceville, Florida, and Sister Mary Grace, FSGM, of Lincoln, Nebraska, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Also surviving are three sisters, Gilda Jannuzzi of North Conway, New Hampshire, Victoria Green of Watchung, and Sadie DiLiddo of Branchburg, and many devoted nieces and nephews. Born in New York City in 1915, Mr. Cozzoli was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later Plainfield, New Jersey, where, in 1919, his father founded Cozzoli Machine Company. He attended Plainfield schools. During the heart of the Great Depression Mr. Cozzoli joined his father in an attempt to keep the company afloat during those very difficult times. Mr. Cozzoli was President and Chairman of the Board of Cozzoli Machine Company, an international leader in the design and manufacture of special machinery. The companys machines have been used to facilitate mass production of such products like salk vaccine (which was used for the prevention of polio), sulfa, penicillin, and many other medicinal products. During World War II, the company manufactured machinery that helped create medical supplies to service the wounded. Cozzoli Machine Company was located in Plainfield, New Jersey until it was moved to Somerset last year. Mr. Cozzoli was active in the Kiwanis Club and was a longtime member of St. Marys Stony Hill Church in Watchung; among other honors, he had been a member of the Board of Directors of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), and Chair of the International Trade Committee of PMMI, an international packaging organization. Mr. Cozzoli was also a Director of Representative Savings and Loan, later City Federal. Funeral services will be held at 9:00a.m. on Friday, February 27th at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, followed by a 10:00a.m. funeral Mass at St. Marys Stony Hill Church and interment at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains. Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 25th from 7-9 p.m. and on Thursday, February 26th from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to either the Muhlenberg Foundation/Cardiac Care Unit, Park Ave. & Randolph Road, Plainfield, NJ 07060 or to The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, P.O. Box 9020, 2120 Central Ave., Alton, Illinois 62002-9020.