Michael John Pucci, Sr.

Suddenly, on Saturday April 4, 2020, Michael John Pucci Sr., age 79 of West Collingswood, NJ, passed away. He was born and raised in Camden, NJ on November 25, 1940. He was the oldest child of the late Frank P. and Antoinette T. Pucci (nee Mascarini). He has a younger brother, named Frank J. Pucci who currently lives in Southampton, NJ and has many cherished cousins from both sides of his family.

Michael attended St. Joe’s Catholic School in Camden, NJ and graduated High School in 1958.  He had many odd jobs, but got a job at the local Texaco Gas Station on Mt. Ephraim Ave in Woodlynne, NJ; and where he learned to be a mechanic. He was so good at his job as it came very naturally to him, that he was left in charge of the gas station very often. He was a trusted, reliable and loyal employee. 

He then went to work at Dick’s Esso Gas Station in Runnemede, on the Black Horse Pike and Clements Bridge Road for three years. This is where he met his wife, Audrey, as she would bring her car to him to get fixed because he was the only mechanic she trusted.  So they dated and got married on September 9, 1967 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Camden, NJ. Together they had three beautiful children; Michele Lynn (Toros Zeibari), Michael John Jr. (Cristin) and Lisa Ann (Mike Klein Jr). He has five beautiful grandchildren, Michael (his namesake), Nicholas, Matthew, Aleksander and Abigail.  

He then got a job at Hess Oil in Pennsauken and was the Mechanic for all of their delivery trucks. Hess Oil was bought out by Matlack Inc. This is where he became a Teamsters union member of Local 676 in Woodlynne, NJ. He stayed with Matlack for many decades as a diesel mechanic, was transferred to the Swedesboro Terminal, Local 312 and then finally to the Bensalem, PA Terminal. When Matlack was bought out by the Rollins Company, the Bensalem Terminal closed and he got a job at Active Transportation, a Car Transporter Company in Essington, PA, Tinicum Township. He remained there until his retirement in 2008. He was a union man all of his life and diesel mechanic for 37 years.

He was a big car enthusiast, He bought every one with his hard earned money and fixed them up. He had a ‘54 Pontiac, then traded it in for a ’58 Chevy Impala Convertible. His favorite was a ’62 Fire Engine Red Chevy Impala with a 409 engine with all the bells and whistles!!

He was an excellent provider for his family and always took care of them. He respected traditions and was very traditional and old school. He loved telling stories of his old days to his children and grandchildren of him growing up in Camden which always included some shenanigans with his friends in the neighborhood. While working shift work most of his career, he would relax and have fun by going on many fishing trips with his brother in laws and lets not forget the Eagles games at Veterans Stadium, members of the 700 level club. 

He was a man of few words and was happiest when he was home with their cats; Buttons(passed in 2017) and currently Girly and Smokey. Since retirement he became a member of a local gym for a number of years and made many friends with his charm and humor. The last few years of his life he could be found at a coffee shop in Audubon NJ buying lottery scratch offs and chit chatting with the owners and other customers.

He was a great man, father and mentor. He is loved dearly by his family and will be missed very much. Rest in Peace Mike, Dad and Grandpop.

A memorial service will be planned for a later date.

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