Gloucester — Born on February 5, 1930, in Boston, Mike was raised in the North End and Chelsea in a family with four sisters and one brother. He graduated from Chelsea High School with the Class of 1947, went to work and attended night school at Northeastern University where he received an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married his first wife, Dorothy, and two children were born to that union.
Mike worked for C.W. Torngren in Somerville constructing shipping boxes. Using the knowledge and experience he gained there, he moved into sales and later brought his brother Sal to the company. In 1972 the brothers purchased Aero Manufacturing, a company making jet engine parts for General Electric. The success of this relationship led them to expand and build a 75,000 square-foot facility in Beverly, realizing 25 million dollars in annual sales. In 1999 Mike retired and sold his share of the company to his brother Sal and Sal’s son, David.
Retirement allowed Mike and his wife Jane, who he married in 1994, to pursue his great passion for the care and welfare of animals. Mike worked tirelessly to help establish the new Cape Ann Animal Shelter which opened in 2012. Along with Jane, he joined the Northeast Health and Hospital’s Founders Society and further supported the Addison Gilbert Hospital by playing an important role in the establishment of the Gorton’s Cancer Unit, donating the waiting room. They were also involved in helping the Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston increase awareness and raise funds for expansion.
While Mike was an active and enthusiastic golfer and a regular at the card table at the St. Peter’s Club, he embarked on a new adventure with the president of the Massachusetts Breeders Association, George Brown. With the purchase of a chestnut thoroughbred horse named Sociano, Mike and George began to breed and race a stable of horses, further enabling Mike’s frequent attendance at Suffolk Downs and providing him with even greater enjoyment. While Mike enjoyed all of his various pursuits he had no greater joy than gathering friends and family members at his home for long, wonderful dinners prepared by his wife, Jane.
Mike was predeceased by his parents, Sam and Carmela (DiNunzio) Fonzo, his sisters Jennie Fonzo, Flora Foley, and Mary Petrosky.
Mike is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Jane (Creighton) Fonzo of Gloucester, his son Michael A. Fonzo, Jr. of Rochester, New Hampshire, his daughter Lisa Fonzo Lenk of Danvers, and grandson Harrison Michael Lenk. He is also survived by his brother Salvatore and his wife Patricia Fonzo of Gloucester, his sister Eileen Dwyer of Saugus, many nieces, nephews and cousins, and a large host of friends who will dearly miss and remember him.
ARRANGEMENTS: A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Ann’s Church, Holy Family Parish, 74 Pleasant St., Gloucester, Thursday, September 20, 2012, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Campbell – Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly (North Beverly location) Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Michael’s memory to the Cape Ann Animal Aid, 4 Paws Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. Information, directions and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.
