Obituary: John J. Corsetti, Engineer at the Quincy Shipyard, and then Polaroid

Obituary from Lane Funeral Home.

John J. Corsetti passed away at the Sawtelle Family Hospice Home on Saturday morning, November 1st. The beloved husband of the late Madeline L. (Altavesta) Corsetti, he was ninety-five years of age.

A lifelong resident of Woburn, Mr. Corsetti was one of nine children born to the late Bernardo and Francesca (Froscione) Corsetti. Raised and educated here, he was a graduate of Woburn High School with the Class of 1937. Mr. Corsetti had continued his education over the years, first attending the Peterson School and later Wentworth Institute, where he received licensure in Engineering. Mr Corsetti had worked as an Engineer first at the Quincy Shipyard and then to Polaroid in Waltham, from where he retired at sixty-two years of age.

In 1940 Mr. Corsetti married the true love of his life, Madeline Altavesta, who was by his side for almost seventy-two years. When the war broke out, Mr. Corsetti enlisted in the US Navy where he proudly served his country. Upon his return home in 1946, he secured a position at the Quincy Shipyard for a number of years and then to Polaroid, where he remained until his retirement in 1982.

He and Mrs. Corsetti dedicated themselves to their two daughters, who brought much joy into their lives. They lived in the Central Square section of the city, where he had built his own home. Throughout the years, Mr. and Mrs. Corsetti were superb dancers and had advanced through the ranks of ballroom dancing competitions in the local area. They also shared their love of dancing by teaching ballroom dancing out of their home. Not only dancing throughout the years, Mr. Corsetti also had a great love of music. He attended Boston Conservatory and wound up teaching there for a good number of years. Having played the guitar throughout his life, he would always have sing-alongs and entertain folks in their home. They had also travelled extensively throughout the years. Having travelled all throughout the European countries, Italy became their favorite place to return.

Becoming “Papa” was a wonderful gift. He spent many, many happy hours with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Showing, teaching, playing, he always had time to give and he had a wonderful relationship with each.

A very loving, kind, and gentle man, he loved life and lived it to the fullest. Mr. Corsetti’s big heart and gentle ways are wonderful memories that he shared with all, for ninety-five years.

Mr. Corsetti was sadly predeceased by his loving wife, Madeline, and his siblings, Augustus, Angelo, Amato, and Daniel Corsetti.

He is lovingly survived by his daughters, Jeannette Corsetti of North Chelmsford and Sandra Davis of Woburn; his siblings, Dominic Corsetti of VA, Steve Corsetti of FL, Antoinette Cuoco of Wilmington, and Virginia Tavano of NH; his grandchildren, Dr. Robert A. Wetherbee, Lee Ann Wetherbee, F. Jonathan Prestidge, and Amelia Davis; and his great-grandchildren, Dominic Nichols and Ayden Prestidge.

Funeral from the Lane Funeral Home, 760 Main Street, Winchester on Wednesday, November 5th at 11 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Anthony Church, 851 Main Street, Woburn at 12 Noon. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to call at Lane Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Mr. Corsetti’s memory to the Sawtelle Family Hospice House, c/o VNA of Middlesex East, 607 North Avenue, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880.