Joseph A. Terrio, Sr. Obituary (1921

SOUTH THOMASTON - Joseph A. Terrio, Sr., 86, died Thursday, September 20, 2007 at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Rockport, following a long illness. Born in Howland, May 4, 1921, he was one of 15 children of Joseph L. and Olive Egrow Terrio. He was educated in Howland schools. While in high school, he enjoyed track and was particularly accomplished in poll vault. His work with the Conservation Corps brought Mr. Terrio to Camden in the late 1930's. After coming to the Camden/Rockland area, he met Geneva M. Brazier. The couple was married at Rockland, July 23, 1940. They made their home in Rockland, where they raised their family of six children. In the years prior to World War II, Mr. Terrio was employed at Snows Ship Yard in Rockland. Having served with the Maine National Guard, he enlisted in the Unites States Army and entered active duty June 27, 1944. He served in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters, as a Rifleman/ Sharpshooter, with the 964th Engineer Maintenance Company. He was honorably discharged December 2, 1945. Returning home, he was again employed with Snows Ship Yard, where he developed considerable competency and satisfaction in welding and steel fabrication. While at the ship yard he completed a night school welding course and earned a Navy Certification Ticket for Welders. In the early 1950's, he began employment with Thomaston Steel Works where he built many of the fire escapes still in use on local buildings. In the late 1950's he worked with Thomaston Steel' in construction of the 26, 1000-foot towers at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Facility in Cutler. For a brief period he worked with Prock Marine in Rockland. His last employment was in maintenance with Holmes Packing and Port Clyde Canning. While working at Holmes Packing, he dismantled the old boiler and personally constructed a new one. When the inspector from the State arrived to license the new boiler, recognizing the knowledge and skill that had gone into its construction, he asked, "Who built this boiler?" Learning that Mr. Terrio, who had no formal steam training was the builder, the inspector asked if Mr. Terrio would like to sit for the State of Maine Boilerman's Examination. With some uncertainty, Mr. Terrio took the examination, passed at a measure proving his knowledge, and became a Certified Boilerman. His family said that he could make anything out of metal. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, ice fishing, splitting and stacking wood. In earlier years with his sons, he took pleasure in "frost fishing" for smelts. An ardent football fan, he was a passionate fan of the New England Patriots. Having interrupted his high school career to help support his family, Mr. Terrio was thrilled to receive his high school diploma as a member of Rockland District High School, Class of 2002. He was a member of the Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post No. 1, Rockland. Mr. Terrio was pre-deceased by one grandson, Matthew Stuart Ames in 1998. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Geneva M.; four sons and their wives, Joseph A. Jr. and Faye Terrio of Helena, MT, Lawrence L. "Larry" and Nancy Terrio of South Thomaston; Francis L. "Frank" and Judith Terrio of Rockland, Robert C. "Bobby" and Melanie Terrio of Victor, MT; two daughters, Rose M. Snowdeal of South Thomaston, Jo-Ann P. and her husband Thomas Ames of Owls Head; two brothers, Gerald Terrio and his wife Catherine of Howland, Delmont Terrio of Boston, MA; seven sisters, Eva Bickford of West Enfield. Doris Robinson and her husband Joseph of St. George, Shirley Milton and her husband Lawrence of Enfield; Marilyn Terrio of Howland; Charlotte Georgio, Irene Webber, Celia Bard all of Ohio; fifteen grandchildren; more than 42 great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday evening, September 24, 2007, at the Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday morning. The Reverend Mark Reinhardt will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow at Seaview Cemetery, Warrenton Street, Rockland. Please take a moment to visit Joe's Personal Online Guest Book.