Carlos Vazquez

On Friday, July 29, 2022, Carlos Vazquez died peacefully at the age of 83.

Carlos was born in May 1939, on a ferry boat in the East River of New York while en route to the hospital, to Herminia and Catalino Vazquez.  He grew up in Brooklyn, where, as a boy, he stocked shelves at his father’s grocery stores alongside his beloved older sister, Mary Alice.  After attending George Westinghouse High School and graduating from New York City Community College, he worked as an engineer in the telecommunications field, for companies including Bell Canada, Connecticut Public Television, TIE Communications and Radio Communications.  Perhaps the job he loved the most was being a father to two daughters and later a grandfather – or Papi, as he was fondly named – to four grandchildren, whom he adored.

Carlos (also referred to as: Dad, Papi, Unc or Carlito) was always happy and ready to help, whoever was in need, however he could.  Aside from offering to drive you wherever you needed to go at any hour of the day, he could fix, install, move, or remove just about anything – baffling people with his expertise in “confunctionators.”  Everything from raking the leaves to making a hot dog required a “system.” His methods were consistent and unique – disciplining his daughters involved perplexing, yet effective “sitting exercises” and Christmas always required that everyone receive a box of Casa Real nougat (masterfully wrapped using a glue stick). Although he later moved to Connecticut, he was always proud of his Brooklyn origins.  He would tearfully recall when the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series in 1955, and how the schools in Brooklyn, and only the city schools in Brooklyn, got the day off after the victory to celebrate.  Carlos liked to impart his wisdom and had endless lessons to share.  After a road trip with Carlos, one would have learned (among other things): (1) how to avoid tolls through New York, (2) why one should be extra careful driving just as it is beginning to rain; and (3) why you should not fill your car up with gas while a tanker was replenishing the gas station’s tanks.  He enjoyed watching episodes of Rocky and Bullwinkle and weekends were spent listening to Car Talk and Jonathan Schwartz on NPR or watching “a good war movie.” He was also an avid collector. He possessed more NYC subway maps than the MTA and whenever he ate out, he always grabbed several extra napkins, ketchups and salt and pepper packets to have on hand at home.  While he may have been frugal in his spending habits, he was abundant with his love and time for family and friends and will be lovingly remembered for his positive disposition, selflessness, and generosity.

Carlos was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister.  He is survived by his daughters, Annette Pond and Jennifer Avicolli, and their husbands Mike Pond and Anthony Avicolli, his grandchildren, Matthew Pond, Andrew Pond, Gabriella Avicolli and Thomas Avicolli, several nephews and nieces, and an extended family of relations.

Visitation will be on Monday, August 1, 2022, between 9:00 – 11:00 am at Mastapeter Memorial Home, 270 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville, NJ.  Following visitation, a funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph R.C. Church, 685 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ at 11:30 am. Carlos will be interred at St. Joseph Cemetery, Toms River, NJ.

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