Visitation: THURSDAY, December 29, 2016: 2-4 & 7-9 pm at The Dietrich Funeral Homes, Inc., 2480 Kensington Ave., Amherst.
Service: FRIDAY, December 30, 2016: A Funeral
Service will be held at 10 am at The Dietrich Funeral Homes, Inc. MASSARO – A. Charles, M.D.
December 24, 2016, beloved husband
of the late Jean M. (Sharp); loving father
of Charles E. (Susan) Massaro,
Mary B. (Jerry) Scarcella and Michael
P. Massaro; grandfather of C. Patrick
and Daniel Massaro, Lauren and
Connor Hoffman, Nathan and Madison
Massaro; brother of the late Dr.
Russell (Elaine) Massaro; survived by
nieces and nephews. Friends may call
Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM and Friday
9-10 AM at the DIETRICH FUNERAL
HOME, INC., 2480 Kensington. A
Prayer
Service will be held Friday at 10
AM. Flowers gratefully declined. AMHERST – Dr. A. Charles Massaro, a family doctor to many in Cheektowaga during the 1960s and ’70s, and later one of Buffalo’s leading medical professionals, died Christmas Eve (Dec. 24, 2016) in his Amherst home about a week before his 86th birthday.

Dr. Massaro was born Jan. 2, 1931, in Buffalo. He was the eldest son of Charles J. and Mary (Mongiovi) Massaro, whose families had emigrated from the Sicilian town of Campobello di Licata, where they had lived for centuries. Mr. Massaro was a barber, and with the advent of television, did TV repairs on the side. Mrs. Massaro worked primarily in the IDS Department store. Despite their modest means, they raised two sons who both became accomplished physicians.

Dr. Massaro was educated in Buffalo and graduated with honors from Canisius High School as president of the Class of 1949. His senior yearbook prophetically wrote, "Chuck … was one of the brains of the senior class … destined to become a great doctor by way of Canisius College."

He then graduated cum laude from Canisius College in 1953, and earned his medical doctorate from Creighton University as one of two members of the class who were designated "Outstanding Senior Students" in the medical school in 1957.

He returned to the Buffalo area, eventually setting up a general practice medical office on Cleveland Drive in Cheektowaga with Drs. Anthony Aquilina and Carl N. Schueler. Dr. Massaro had affiliations with Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Cheektowaga, and he eventually became chief of staff at Sisters Hospital before leaving his practice to become the hospital’s first-ever vice president of medical affairs, a post he held until his retirement.

While working his residency at Sisters Hospital in the late 1950s, he met a nurse from Olean, Jean Marie Sharp. The two married in 1958, started a family with homes in Cheektowaga and Williamsville, celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2008 and loved each other until her death on Dec. 26, 2012.

Dr. Massaro is survived by his three children, Charles E. (Susan) Massaro of Olean, Mary (Jerry) Scarcella of Lancaster, and Michael P. Massaro of Williamsville; six grandchildren, Charles Patrick Massaro of Los Angeles, Daniel K. Massaro, an Army officer based in Ft. Carson, Colo., Lauren and Connor Hoffman of Williamsville, and Nathan and Madison Massaro; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Russell (Elaine) Massaro and an uncle with whom he grew up, Paul (Clara) Mongiovi.

Friends may call Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m., and Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Dietrich Funeral Home Inc., 2480 Kensington, Amherst. A prayer service will be held Friday at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to a charity of the donor’s choice