Antonio Mastropieri

Antonio (Tony) Mastropieri, 79, passed away on October 11, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born to parents Donato Mastropieri and Rosa Gentile, on June 1, 1943, in Orsara di Puglia, Italy. Antonio was only 6 years old when his father Donato passed away and quickly realized that although he needed to continue to go to school, he also needed to learn a trade for the future. From a young age of 10, he was already an apprentice for the town’s blacksmith where he learned to work with steel and fabricate. As a highly skilled teen, he moved to Turin where he was hired as a Forman to work on and oversee Forklift repair operations completely rebuilding engines, mast & hydraulic components, and modifying them from top to bottom. It was in Turin that he met his wife of almost 40 years Rocchina. They married in 1967 and moved to Chicago to start their journey, building their legacy together. Due to his strong work ethic, sharp mind, and talent, Antonio was hired at TransLift (a forklift sales and service company) in Elmhurst, IL. He quickly became the foreman of the fabrication shop where he was asked to complete various projects such as designing and fabricating a “neutral safety device” that would go on be installed on all new forklifts. This device prevented the forklift from rolling away when the operator got off the seat. He went on to design and fabricate numerous components where he holds US patents for forklift safety modifications. In 1983, he started his own forklift repair business Tony Mastropieri Inc. During the past 30 years, he routinely performed miracles in his small shop. He took on major projects where he fabricated, repaired, re-built and modified forklifts for major clients throughout the Chicagoland area.

Antonio is preceded in death by his loving wife, Rocchina Mastropieri (Trivisano). He is survived by four children: Rose Hanson (Mark), Dan Mastropieri (Rosanne), Paul Mastropieri (Heather), and Teresa Lampignano (Michael); 14 grandchildren, Antonio Mastropieri (Nicole), Nicholas Hanson, Donato Mastropieri, Joseph Hanson, Jessica Warner (Zachory), Cristiano Mastropieri, John Hanson, Michele Mastropieri, Matteo Mastropieri, Danielle Hanson, Rocco Mastropieri, Nico Mastropieri, Adriana Lampignano and Alessia Lampignano; and two great-grandchildren; Donato and Elliana Mastropieri. Antonio was a hard worker until his last days, he had an immense love for his family. His greatest treasure and joy was being with his 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

A Donation will be put into the Tony Mastropieri Trade School Scholarship fund with the Chicago Italian American Charitable Organization.