Joe and I met in the early 1960's drag racing. He was my friend for more than 50 years. So long, pal. May you soar - pain free - with the angels forever!
Got the word yesterday - been soaking it in since. Joe leaves a unique legacy: Besides the work and racing he's famous for, he somehow made us all believe we could be Joe Mondello, too. The world's scrapyards are full of cylinder heads apparently ported by drunken coal miners. Thanks Joe - that was one of the better 'live and learn' lessons of my life.
There will be viewing and a memorial service at Hood Funeral Home, Crossville , Tennessee on Friday, April 8th, between 1:00pm and 8:00pm. There will be a second viewing and memorial service at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Los Angeles , California on Tuesday, April 12th between 3pm and 8pm, with Rosary Service at 6:30pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 13th at 9:30am, with burial following directly after the service. RIP Joe - you will be sorely missed....
A message from Mary Mondello <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> Joe Mondello (1936-2011) Drag racing and the automotive performance aftermarket lost one of its brightest lights, with the passing of Joe Mondello in the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 6 in Crossville, Tenn., at the age of 75, following complications from surgery. Joe was born on August 6, 1936 in Los Angeles, Calif. Joe’s passion for all things mechanical, and particularly improving cylinder head airflow, led him to a 54 year career as an engine builder, head porter and later, a teacher. His talents led him to work with some of the most notable race teams and fellow engine builders during the 60s and through the turn of the century. He started racing at age 13, and his professional career started in 1951 working on flat-head Fords for his own ’40 Ford coupe for drag racing, as well as for other engine builders. His talents brought him together with “Sush” Matsubara and the infamous purple Mondello-Matsubara Fiat Topolino blown fuel altered, which won two NHRA National events and is a National speed and e.t. record holder. (The record stands today because the fuel altered class was dropped from drag racing.) GM, Ford, Chrysler, AMC – even Honda…Joe’s touch improved all of the breed’s heads for racing. He was nicknamed “Dr. Oldsmobile” for his highly successful developmental work on the Olds V-8 engines. "Joe took on every challenge presented to him – from helping develop the Briggs & Stratton engine for the Junior Dragster and Karting program, to off-road racing engines to off-shore and drag boat racing, as well as road racing (Mondello’s hands were all over the 1966 LeMans winning Ford GT-40 from Carroll Shelby). His Posi-Flow® heads were on many of Don Garlits’ Swamp Rats as well as many other leading racers – drag racing, land speed cars, boats, road racing and circle track cars." "His passion for excellence lead him to establish the Mondello Technical School in 1996, devoted to teaching the art of professional performance engine building and head porting design to all who came including young men and women who desired a career in the field. The school started in Paso Robles, Calif. and later moved to Crossville, Tenn." “Joe’s passion was for those young people in the school. He wanted them to understand what it took to be a professional in the shop and in customer relations. He also extended that passion to teaching many of them how to be a ‘professional’ as a drag racer. He taught them the technical aspects of their trade (as an engine builder and as a racer) and how to interact with people.” "His latest passion was the Quarter Mile Foundation and the PROJECT 1320 documentary, it became a major focus of his life for the last year or so. Before his passing, Joe had begun work on a 555 cubic inch World Products Big Block Chevy engine to be raffled for benefit of the Foundation, and was planning two additional engines. Joe was really fired up about the PROJECT 1320 effort and the raffle engine. "Right before he passed",“He said, ‘Mary, I did not qualify! I can’t finish the PROJECT 1320 engine…I’ve DNQ’ed.’” Joe is survived by his wife Mary, four children Bernard Mondello, Stephanie Mondello, Gina Ozanne, and Nica Mondello-Gomez and four grandchildren, Nicole Mondello, Ross Ozanne, Adam and Joey Gomez. For those wishing to donate in Joe’s memory in lieu of flowers please consider Joe’s favorite charities: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital P.O. Box 1000, Dept 142 Memphis, TN 38148 (mark check “For direct care of children”
To a great friend and neighbor. Having you as a friend made our lives better. Peace to you, dear friend. Mark and Glo
sad to here this , I just met him in Gainsville . what a great person , great guy . funny as hell , a real person , RIP Joe
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