Daniel G. Gazzola, Gazetten Construction cofounder from Massapequa Park, dies at 91

When Daniel G. Gazzola attended a family gathering, he would sit his grandchildren and young relatives on his lap and tell them a story, while drawing a cartoon on the spot to illustrate it.

"The paper would come alive and they were just mesmerized," said his son Daniel T. Gazzola.

"There’s a photograph of my daughter watching him draw with her mouth open," he said.

Watching her grandfather draw impacted Eileen Gazzola, and "I ended up being an art major in college. So, I would like to think he inspired my love of drawing from a very young age," she said.

Daniel G. Gazzola died on May 4 at the Maryville Enhanced Assisted Living Center in Huntington. He was 91.

Pencils, hammers and guitars

Born on Sept. 4, 1934 in the Bronx, Gazzola was the youngest of three children. His parents were very active in their community, giving him a time to himself to practice his drawing, a talent that came naturally, and learn to play the guitar.

After high school, he graduated from art school two years later. He joined the U.S. Army, serving from 1955 to 1957, and was lead guitarist in the Army's music band.

"He had a great time because a lot of the guys were stationed someplace pretty boring, and yet he was in the band and they would go around to all the bases and entertain them," said his son.

A year after returning from the military with an honorable discharge, Daniel met his late wife, Joan Sedita, at a dance; the two hit it off right away.

The couple married in 1959, and lived with their son Daniel in a Queens apartment before moving to a house in Massapequa Park.

Gazzola started his career as a draftsman for a small construction company, but, after he married, he took a job in the estimating department of NICO Construction.

"He just excelled there and rose to the top ... and he headed this hospital division," his son said.

"And he said ‘I’ve gone as far as I can go, I see a niche that’s not really being filled,’ and he broke out on his own with a partner, and they were fabulously successful," he said.

He and his co-worker Joseph E. VanEtten formed Gazetten Construction, derived from a portmanteau of their last names.

Gazetten Construction specialized in occupied area renovations and healthcare. It completed multiple high-profile projects, including the New York Board of Trade commodity futures exchange center and the Butler Library at Columbia University. The firm also added four floors to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

A father and mentor

Gazzola taught his two sons how to use tools and the basics of construction; the three of them were able to finish their home’s entire basement.

"It was a great relationship with my dad, and I learned a lot about tools and how to do things, which is a life skill," his eldest son said.

Although he may not have pursued art as a career, his love of drawing never left him. If there was a funny situation involving one of his clients, Daniel would draw it and give it to them.

Daniel and Joan Gazzola eventually moved to Florida, where Eileen has fond memories of being with her grandparents.

"We would hang out at the house, going through photos, playing music. Just spending time together in Florida was really special and talking about our memories with our family growing up and with our grandma," she said.

"If there’s one thing I would say about my grandpa is that he was an amazing storyteller." Eileen said.

In addition to his son Daniel and granddaughter Eileen, Gazzola is survived by his another son, Joseph A. Gazzola, and two grandchildren, Emily A. Gazzola and Daniel P. Gazzola.

A wake will be held at M.A. Connell Funeral Home in Huntington Station on Tuesday, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, 10:15 a.m., at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Bay Shore. He will be buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Bay Shore.