Obituary: Vincent ‘Vinny’ John Masella, 31, Of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Vincent "Vinny" John Masella, 31, of Wallingford, CT entered into rest at his home, on December 31, 2023. Vinny was born in New Haven, June 12, 1992.

He was the son of Deborah L. (Borzelli) and Stephen J. Masella of Wallingford. He is survived by his two sisters, Lindsey (Scott) Vernon of Wallingford and Sara (Austin) Fischer of North Carolina, four nieces, a nephew, his paternal grandmother, Audrey (the late Ray) Sarro of Wallingford, and his paternal grandfather, Ronald (Judy) Masella of Florida. He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Albert and Louise (Cavallaro) Borzelli of Ansonia.

Vinny was a unique soul, in spite of his appearance and quiet voice. It was not his disabilities that defined him but his pure way of loving fully, unconditionally, and with laughter. On birthdays and holidays, he never asked about gifts, only "who's coming" and "what time."

He saw the good in everyone, and they, likewise, never forgot his genuine heart--from friends in his program to doctors, caregivers, teachers, drivers, family friends, service staff, to people we didn't even know he knew until they came, usually trotting over, exclaiming his name and giving him a big hug or high-five. If you ever doubted whether Vinny remembered you, rest assured, he did. He would ask us how someone was doing whom he met 20 years ago.

He especially loved spending quality time and sharing jokes with family, friends, and his doting caregivers. You didn't have to know Vin well to learn how much he loved cutting the grass, going for rides, music, dancing, Yanni, and cake.

Vinny taught our family and, we hope, all those he touched, to look for the good in people, look for the helpers, to live with joy in the moment, and to make a choice, daily, to see the beauty in people and life.

Vinny attended ACES Village School in North Haven, ACES Whitney Academy in Hamden, Arc of Meriden-Wallingford, and MARC Community Resources (The Arc Connecticut) in Middletown.

Vinny’s family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St., on Thursday, January 11, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home at 11:30 a.m., Burial at In Memoriam Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers to the home, please make a donation in memory of Vincent Masella to United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Eastern Connecticut, or to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fund at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.