Harry Masterson Sr., 94, died on June 25. Masterson, a founder of the Ewing Patriotic Committee, was known by many around town as “Mr. Ewing” due to his many years of involvement in the community.
Born in Lambertville, he was a resident of Ewing most of his life. He was a 1942 graduate of Trenton Catholic Boys High School, and was drafted into the Army in 1943 and traveled through France and Germany.
Masterson was assigned to a medical unit that followed General George S. Patton’s Third Army.
He sang professionally with the Bill Fabrizio Band early on. In 1957 he started as a Ewing police officer, rose to the rank of captain, and retired in charge of the traffic division in 1989.
Masterson was a member of numerous community groups and served as president in multiple organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police, Sunshine Foundation, Holy Name Society.
Masterson supported veterans causes in many capacities. He served as a coordinator of public events including the mayoral inauguration, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, 9/11 Patriots Day, Christmas tree lightings, Sunshine Foundation’s Dreamlift and the Elks Easter egg hunt.
Most notably he was president of the Ewing Patriotic Committee that founded the annual 4th of July Parade in Ewing Township, which ran for over 50 years.
Son of the late Frank and Annette Masterson, grandfather of the late Jessica Masterson, and husband of the late Mary Palmieri Masterson, he is survived by a daughter, Eileen Masterson, three sons and daughters-in-law, Harry and Cheryl Masterson, Edward and Cynthia Masterson, Frank and Joanne Masterson, a sister, Margaret Giordano, 11 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
