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WHEREAS, after 40 years of dedication to Chatham Village, Joe Massarelli III retired as current Manager of Chatham Village; and,
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WHEREAS, Joe Massarelli III grew up helping his father and paternal grandfather, who emigrated from Italy in 1899, tend to their gardens. In addition, young Joe helped with digging, transplanting, and transporting nursery materials at a small family-owned nursery; and
WHEREAS, after attending Penn State, New Kensington for a few years, he realized that a classroom education was not for him. He worked full time at a thriving nursery near his home, until the owners retired. In the fall of 1980, he interviewed with Chatham Village for a grounds maintenance worker and began employment in 1981; and,
WHEREAS, due to changes in personnel, Joe’s self-taught knowledge, talent and passion for landscaping, earned him the title Grounds Supervisor in 1995 and he began to work with management and Board members directly; and,
WHEREAS, in 2005, Chatham Village was designated by the United States Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark community and Joe’s landscaping was an integral part of Historic preservation; and,
WHEREAS, Joe’s impeccable work ethic and philosophy to do things right the first time, has helped Chatham Village become recognized as one of the most significant examples of the Garden City community planning movement in the USA today; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Massarelli, III plans spending more time with his wife Rhonda, their two grown children, Randi and Joe and their four grandchildren, Leythan, Stevie, Mila and Joey, hiking, hunting, gardening and growing trees on their Somerset County property; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby congratulate Mr. Joe Massarelli, III on his retirement and thank him for his dedication in helping to make Chatham Village a treasure in the City of Pittsburgh; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Thursday, March 18, 2021 to be “Joe Massarelli III Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.