Joseph Vito Mastronardo Jr.
Joseph Mastronardo Jr., 65, was remembered by family and friends as a math whiz and a generous man who helped a friend after a serious car accident and paid for other families' children to attend a private high school. He had survived cancer and a stroke, used a feeding tube and oxygen, and had worked to regain weight while in custody. He died on November 9, 2015, at the Federal Medical Center Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts, where his family said he had been moved in April, about 300 miles from home, despite his doctors' warnings. His attorney, Dennis J. Cogan, said he died of complications from his medical problems, including throat cancer, pneumonia and a recent stroke, while his son said the family believes respiratory complications would have been caught and treated at home and is awaiting an independent autopsy. Federal prison officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). His attorney, Dennis J. Cogan, says he died of complications from medical problems, while his son Joe says respiratory complications would have been caught and treated had his father not been moved far from home, and the family is considering a lawsuit and awaiting an independent autopsy.
Reported by: Dennis J. Cogan, his attorney over the years (family or their lawyers); Joe Mastronardo (son), based on the family's preliminary investigation (family or their lawyers).
Custody: Serving a sentence.