Joseph & Renee Mastronardi

It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my beloved parents, Joseph Mastronardi, Jr. age 87, and Renee Russo Mastronardi, age 89, who passed away on January 1, 2026 and December 8, 2025 respectively, at Bridgeport Hospital.

Joseph was born on October 29th, 1938, in Bridgeport, CT to Christine DelBuono Mastronardi and Joseph Mastronardi, Sr. Joe grew up in the North End of Bridgeport and dedicated his life to serving his community. He co-founded the North End Good Guys Club, a program for inner-city youth. He served as an Alderman in the North End. He owned Fitz’s Haufbrau on Main Street in Bridgeport, a local bar where he welcomed everyone with a smile and, on Sundays, a homemade roast beef sandwich.

Renee was also born on October 29th, but in 1936 in Stamford, CT. She worked as a keypunch operator and then as a secretary at General Electric Credit Corporation for more than 40 years. She loved to bowl and to dance and went to her last rock concert when she was eighty-two. She was a devoted grandmother. When her grandson, Joe, wanted to go fishing or her granddaughter, Samantha, wanted to go shopping, she never said no.

Joseph asked Renee to dance with him in 1971. They married in 1975 and were in the hospital together until their death.

Together, they loved to travel. They went on cruises, vacationed in Aruba or Antigua, or wintered in Naples, FL. Joe’s nickname was the ‘Tan Man’ because he always had a dark tan. Renee’s grandchildren nicknamed her ‘Mia’ because they couldn’t pronounce grandma and it stuck.

They are survived by their daughter, Susan Sabia and her husband Mark, their grandson Joseph Sabia and his wife Colleen, their granddaughter Samantha Owens and her husband Brian, their great-granddaughter Annie Sabia, and their great-grandson Emmett Owens.

They were predeceased by their parents, Joseph and Christine Mastronardi, and Michael and Mary Russo, Joseph’s brother John and Renee’s sister Joan.

A wake will be held on Sunday, January 11th from 2pm until 5pm at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield CT. A funeral will be held on Monday, January 12th at 11am at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ‘Tunnel to Towers’.