Matthew Anthony Veneziano Jr., 75, of Bellingham, died February 17, 2025 at U-Mass Memorial Medical Center. He was the husband of Linda Joyce Veneziano (Tieuli) for 53 years. Mr. Veneziano was the son of the late Matthew A. Veneziano Sr. & Josephine Pagucci. He was born in Milford and moved to Bellingham in 1977. He attended Milford Public Schools, and graduated from Milford High School in 1967, and Massachusetts Trade Shops School in 1968, as an automobile technician. As a very young man, Mr. Veneziano was first employed at the Milford Welding Co. Here he learned the fine art of painting wrought iron railings for 25 cents each under the tutelage of the late Carl Barberi. Other electrifying jobs he endured as a young man was the much sought after and prestigious Senior Apple Picker for the late Reno Ciaramicoli also at 25 cents a bushel. Sanitation Engineer & Parking Lot Attendant at Bill’s Drive at 50 cents an hour, and Brunelli’s Supermarket at $1.00 an hour. After graduation Mr. Veneziano attended Massachusetts Trade Shops School and graduated as an automobile technician.
He worked for the late Vincent Piccinotti at Vinny's Esso Station as a gasoline transfer engineer, the late Herbert Sherman of Sherman Pontiac & Cadillac in Milford, where he obtained and held, the status of Certified Cadillac Craftsman from the Cadillac Division of General Motors Corp, for over five years. The General Motors Corp. in Framingham, and DeLuca's Texaco of Milford. He tired of the automotive trade and was later employed at Noremac Manufacturing in Westborough as a machine operator, and C.N.C. set-up man. At the time of his passing he was employed part time at M.C. Machine Co. in Hopedale for over 34 years as a Vertical Machine Tool Programmer, Quality Control Inspector, and Consigliere.
He was a United States Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War as a Gm/Sn, and was stationed upon the Tugboat YTB 785 U.S.S. Winnemucca. Attached to Commander Task Force 117, Mobile Riverine Force in Nha Be, Vietnam. The Winnemucca and her sister ship the YTB 784 U.S.S. Kailspell had the distinction of being the only two harbor tugboats assigned to the Vietnam War. They operated throughout the rivers and swamps of the Mekong Delta , and from 1967 to 1973 were instrumental in relocating many M.A.T.S.B. (Mobile Advanced Tactical Support Base), into Viet Cong controlled areas of the Mekong Delta. In his over 50 yrs of service in Vietnam, Adak, Alaska, and the San Francisco Area, the YTB 785 had the distinction of being the most heavily decorated harbor tug boat in all United States naval history. Mr. Veneziano was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Mr. Veneziano was a member of the Brownwater Navy, Mobile Riverine Force Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the D.A.V. and a past Sr. Vice & Jr. Vice Commander of the Italian American World War Veterans Post 40 in Milford, MA.
His hobbies and interests included, cruising the warm waters of the Caribbean Ocean, an occasional visit to the Twin River Casino where he helped many families provide for their children’s education. He was also very dedicated to researching his genealogy, where he spent countless hours on the internet connecting and communicating with previously unknown relatives in Argentina, and Italy. He could also be found wandering through many of the local cemeteries doing family research. He enjoyed cooking on Thursday evening for family dinner night when all his children and grandchildren would gather for pork loin, or homemade cavatelli. He loved to make homemade sausage, porchetta, and pizza. Mr. Veneziano was also part of an infamous “gang of misfits”, who for over 25 yrs held Porchetta Feeds at the Belvue Club in Milford. Those dear misfits include Paul Stoico, Anthony (Butch) Mastroianni, the late Michael Mastroianni, and the late Dennis Fitzgerald. Vincent DeMeo could always be counted on for moral support as cooking was not his forte.
In Addition to his wife Linda, he is survived by his three daughters, Tricia Marie Smith of North Providence, RI and her husband Roger Marano, Karen Matthew Hamerski, and her husband James of Milford, and Farrah Lynn Veneziano of Bellingham. The pride of his fleet were his 4 grandchildren, Zachary Matthew Smith, Nicholas Albert Smith, Caden Matthew Lebel, and Ava Leona Lebel (AKA as his Little Matunia). In an already full life he was fortunate enough to be blessed with 4 bonus grandchildren, Amanda Caroline Marano, Roger Anthony Marano Jr., Kylie Christine Hamerski and Kenzie Carine Hamerski. The newest additions to his fleet were of the four legged variety Remy Da Pretzel, and Cooper. He is also survived by his much older sister Joanne Bavosi, and her husband Richard of Milford as well as many nieces an nephews who called him “Uncle Butchie”.He also leaves behind his very close friends William Dennis (Rainman) Racine, and his wife Lesyle (Little Ugh) Racine.
The funeral will be held Tuesday, 25, 2025 from the Consigli Ruggerio Funeral Home, 46 Water St. Milford, with a Funeral Mass, at 10 A.M. in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church 7 East Main St. Milford. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA. Calling hours are Sunday, February 23, 2025 from 2 to 5 P.M. at the Funeral Home.