JOSEPH A. DEMASI, MIDN, USN
Joseph Demasi '60
Loss
From The Bridgeport (Connecticut) Post on December 8, 1957:
Joseph A. DeMasi, an honor student and varsity soccer player at Navy, was found hanged early today in a bathroom of Bancroft hall, the Midshipmen's dormitory. Naval Academy authorities said he apparently committed suicide but a board of investigation was looking into the incident before returning an official finding.
DeMasi, 19-year-old sophomore from Medford, Mass., was found suspended from a bathrobe sash about 12:40 a.m. by another Midshipman. Naval medical officers pronounced him dead of strangulation. Cmdr. Marcy Dupre, public information officer, said the youth was very popular in the brigade of Midshipmen.
"I'm just shocked," said Glenn Warner, coach of the Navy soccer squad on which DeMasi was a reserve right fullback. "He would be the last person I could think of to do something that." Warner said he had DeMasi in a swimming class yesterday and the youth was in fine spirits, laughing and joking.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Joseph graduated in 1956 from Bedford High School. Activities: Soccer 1, 2, 3, Co-Captain 3; Basketball 1, 2, 3; Baseball 1, 2, 3; “M” Club 2, 3; National Honor Society 2, 3; President 3; Student Cabinet 3; French Club 2; Junior Classical League 1; Senior Advisory Council 3; Class Treasurer 3. He was also class orator at graduation.
Father Joseph, mother Gertrude, two sisters Judith and Nancy.
The investigation ruled his death an "unpremeditated suicide."
Memorial Hall Error
Suicide is not a criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.
Joseph is one of 28 members of the Class of 1960 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
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