Joseph “JoJo” Manfra
Member of the Madonna Della Cava Society and a strong believer in Jesus Christ
Joseph “JoJo” Manfra, a longtime resident of Boston’s North End, entered into eternal life on February 12, 2026.
He was a long-time member of AA, a strong believer in Jesus Christ, and a member of the Madonna Della Cava Society. JoJo graduated from the Michelangelo School in the North End and holds a Master’s Degree from Cambridge College. He loved to sing acapella with his famed friends: “Last Time Around”, “Street Magic”, and “North Shore Acapella” He will be missed.
The beloved son of the late Louise (Tragno) Manfra and Giuseppe Manfra. Loving brother of Michael Manfra and Jean LaRosa and her husband, Charles., he is also survived by his loving cousins Joseph Santangelo, Louise (Amadeo) Drake, Michael Tragno, Gina Keegan, Gina Chiarenza, JoAnn, Nicholas and Jade Santangelo, the late Joseph “Chippy” Tragno, Susan Tragno, Paul, Raymond and Joseph Jr. Santangelo. He leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews: Anthony LaRosa, Chucky LaRosa, Jeannie LaRosa, Theresa Bagnera, Lisa, Marco and Michael Manfra Jr, and the late Anthony Manfra. He was the loving nephew of the late Auntie Nancy Santangelo and Uncle Ray, Auntie Lulu and Uncle Mario Amadeo, and other uncles and aunts.
The family received visitors on Monday, February 23 and a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, February 24 in St. Stephen Church, 401 Hanover St., Boston. Services concluded with interment in St. Michael Cemetery, Roslindale. For online condolences, please visit: www.watermanboston.com.
Vincent J. “Sonny” Cammarata
He truly was, and will remain, the patriarch of the family
Vincent J. Cammarata, of Revere, MA, passed away on February 28, 2026, following a lengthy illness. Though Vincent was known by many names to those who knew and loved him, names like Vinnie, Sonny, and Papa, there is one title that described him with the most accuracy: Vinnie was a patriarch.
The word almost seems to have been conceived with him specifically in mind. He was the family leader, a constant source of love and wisdom that seemed to generate a gravitational field around him. Whenever his vast number of friends and family gathered, whether at a family gathering by his pool in Revere, in the basement of St. Mary’s Church, or at a Palm Sunday brunch where he would repeatedly fold palm leaves into crosses for anybody that wanted one, people would walk in the door and immediately seek him out, wishing to interact with him in any way they could. He was the first to get a hug, a kiss on the cheek, or a handshake, and no one would ever dare leave without saying goodbye to him.
Vinnie was born in South Boston on April 28th, 1932, to Italian immigrants Domiano (John) and Filippa (Fannie) (née Amaru) Cammarata, who taught him, along with his brother Salvatore and sister Lucy, the importance of faith and family. From early on, Vinnie cherished the knowledge of his family’s history from their roots in Pietraperzia, Sicily. He felt a sense of honor and pride when he traveled to the old country to see where it all started, and became a living, breathing connection to the past, cherishing every memory and sharing them with others.
In 1955, while serving in the United States Navy (he always joked about being a Navy man who never served on a boat), Vinnie met and married the love of his life and soulmate, Judy Mercurio, whom he loved with every fiber of his being until her passing in 2019.
For 64 years, they shared adventure after adventure along with their usual gang of cohorts that started as friends and became family. These friends were as close as close could be and shared every aspect of their lives. They shared dinners, bowling leagues, backyard parties featuring intense bocci games, and trip after trip together. They experienced Italy, Sicily, Alaska, Ireland, and more. When asked what his favorite trip was, Vinnie responded with a trip to Rome, where he and Judy, along with members of his church, received an audience with Pope John Paul II, yet no trip was as rewarding for them as family trips to see his beloved Italy and Sicily, and the series of Disney trips for each of their grandchildren.
A lifelong Roman Catholic, Vinnie had an awe-inspiring level of faith. He and his wife were prominent members of Saint Mary Of The Assumption Parish in Revere, serving in many roles to support his church in any way he could. Whenever a church event took place, everyone would know that Vinnie and Judy would be there helping out. For his whole life, his faith pushed him to truly serve as Christ challenged him, by bringing the church to others as an Eucharistic Minister, by donating time and money to his church and the less fortunate, and by befriending those who needed friendship the most.Being part of the St Marys Holy Name Society was an honor for him and hosting the monthly meetings at his home up until last month gave him such pleasure. One of the biggest joys that brought such pride to Vin was the ACF (Amaru-Cammarata-Falzone) foundation which he along with several cousins organized a yearly Mass at St Marys Church and after Mass gathered in the basement of the church to award yearly scholarships to family members. This past November ACF celebrated its 25th year with him in attendance front and center. Sonny was also an intricate part of the Rosetti-Cowan Senior center, where he served on the board for 11 years. He would be the first to purchase tables for his family and friends and was happy to attend the monthly events they offer. For years, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he and his wife were awarded a “Family of the Quarter” award in 2005. In 2015, Vinnie was awarded the prestigious Bishop Cheverus Medal, bestowed by the Archdiocese of Boston on a select few who stand out for their devotion to their parishes and communities.
Yet with all his successes in life, including retiring after a highly successful career in sales for Ben Franklin Smith Printing in Boston, he cherished his family more than anything else. Judy and Vinnie were given the gift of three adoring daughters, Susan, Cheryl, and Phyllis, who, in turn, blessed them with seven grandchildren and three great-granddaughters who will always remember him singing to them in Italian and making them laugh at family dinners. We can still see him sitting at the head of the table, favoring his cheap Sicilian wine while having a (sometimes heated) political discussion with his sons-in-law. He loved them all deeply and was never afraid to show it. Tears of joy were shed at every engagement announcement, wedding, every birth, every death, and sometimes at silly little things that happened during family gatherings.
His family included countless cousins, nieces and nephews, godsons and goddaughters, all of whom regarded Vinnie as a second father, rather than just a family member. His extended family was, and remains, a tight-knit community because of the example he provided. He truly was, and will remain, the patriarch of the family.
Vinnie is survived by his daughter Susan and husband James Forte of Saugus, daughter Cheryl Cammarata of Revere, daughter Phyllis and husband Thomas Yewcic of Stoneham, her granddaughter Kristen and husband Ryan Flynn of Merrimack, New Hampshire, granddaughters Elizabeth Forte of Beverly, Meredith and her husband Brian Romanowski of Kingston, New Hampshire, Michala Stavrinos of Revere, granddaughters Janelle and Julia Yewcic and grandson Thomas Yewcic, all of Stoneham, and great granddaughters Mia, Madeline and Theodora. He is also survived by countless cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and admirers, all of whom he loved and adored. As Sonny would say “Where Life Began…. Love Never Ends.. Arrivederci …”
Visiting Hours were Tuesday, March 3, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals., 262 Beach St., Revere, all were invited to gather at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 4, at 10:00a.m., to prepare and proceed to a Funeral Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 670 Washington Ave., Revere at 11:00 a.m., immediately followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: New England Pediatric Care for the wonderful work they continue to do for his granddaughter, Janelle. (https://nepc.org/donations/).
To send online condolences, please visit www.vertucciosmithvazza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals.