Capt. John Cusumano, 90, husband of the late Catherine (Militello) of Gloucester, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 17, 2019. He was born in Trappeto, Sicily, Italy on August 12, 1928 son of Filippo and Grazzia (Russo) Cusumano.
John came to America with his family when he was 18 years old, along with 8 other families. Among those 8 families included his future wife, Catherine. He soon married the love of his life and they spent 66 wonderful years together.
A loving husband, and hardworking man, he quickly joined Gloucester’s fishing industry, which he remained a part of for over 60 years. For years he fished off shore on The Ramonde and The California. John purchased his first boat Our Lady of Tears back in the 1950’s.
He also fished on The Acme, which he captained and purchased as his own. He purchased two more vessels the Acme II and the Cathy C. Capt. John was well known in the fishing industry.
Mentoring many other fishermen and helping them become captains and purchase their own vessels. He played a pivotal role in bringing dogfishing to Gloucester. In the early 1980’s he negotiated an exclusive fishing contract with a Processor in Rockland Maine allowing him to supply them with Dogfish from the Acme, Acme II and Cathy C – because of that contract they were the only boats at the time to be able to supply large quantities of Dogfish.
John became known as Gloucester’s “Dog Catcher” in the fishing industry. After he retired from fishing he remained working in the industry mending fishing nets, building and repairing gill nets until he was well in his 80’s. During his retirement you could also find him in his garden growing beautiful fruits and vegetables for his family to enjoy.
He took great pride in his garden and enjoyed sharing it with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren up until the end. He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his 2 sons, Philip Cusumano and his wife Patricia, Anthony Cusumano and his wife Grace; 3 daughters, Josephine Harnish and her husband Robert, Christine Leveille and her husband David and Grace Coots and her husband John of Benton, Arkansas; Grace Cottone, who he raised as his daughter and her husband Frank “Nino”; 8 grandchildren, John Cusumano, Catherine Gelfand and her husband Jonny, Robert Harnish and wife AnnMarie, John Harnish and his wife Meaghan, Brian Harnish and his wife Breanne, David Leveille, Jennifer Currier and her husband Brent, Katelyn Pinkham and her husband Corey; 11 great-grandchildren, Maliyah and Nina Harnish, Jackson and Reese Harnish, Brodie and Brielle Harnish, Colton and Cooper Currier, William, Nellie and Maggie Rue Pinkham; great-nephew and great-nieces, Al Cottone and his wife Isabelle, Josie Cottone and her companion Jim Smith, Fran Salah and her husband Scott; sisters-in-law, Ann-Grace Militello and Rosalie Militello of Gloucester and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by sisters; Maria Lombardi and her husband Aldo, Vita Cusumano and her husband Giocchino, Giuseppa Sanfilippo and her husband Pedro. His sister-in-law, Girolama Groppo and her husband Mateo; brothers-in-laws, Frank Militello and his wife Anonette, Mike Militello and his wife Vincie, Mateo Militello and his wife Caterina, Salvatore Militello and Santo Militello. John was a long time member of the Gloucester Elks B.P.O.E 892, and a member of the Figlie De Trappeto.
His funeral will be held from the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester on Monday, March 25, at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Mass celebrated in St. Ann’s Church, Holy Family Parish at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited. The burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery. Visiting hours in the Greely Funeral Home are on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. To plant a tree in memory of Capt.
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