Veneta, my beloved wife for 48 years, was born Josephine Veneta Mascari in Ironton, Lawrence county, Ohio on March 9th 1923. She was the daughter of Frank and Angeline Mascari. Although her first name was Josephine, she was known as Veneta all her life. Veneta was the wonderful mother of 3 children, two girls and one boy and had 4 great-grand children at the time of her death.

She graduated cum laude from Ohio University in 1950 with a bachelor of Fine Art's degree in Commercial Art. She also pursued graduate studies at Ohio University from 1950 through 1951. She served as Ohio University Library Staff Artist in charge of library displays, exhibits and publications from 1949 through 1951. She was a member of the Iota Chapter of Delta Phi Delta, national honorary art fraternity and the Sigma Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota national honorary music fraternity. She was named on the Ohio University Women's League Scroll of Honor in recognition of outstanding merit in responsibility, cooperation, servics, character and leadership by Sigma Alpha Iota in 1951. She was a former member of Tri State Artists Association of Huntington, West Virginia; a charter member of the Claremont. California branch of AAUW; and of Pomona Valley Art Association. Veneta received the Zeta Tau Alpha Award in fine arts awarded to the most outstanding sophomore student in art. She received the Rose Marie Darst scholarship, becoming the first recipient of the first art scholarship established at Ohio University. She also received an honorable mention from the Ohuo University Fund Award.

Veneta won many awards related to art exhibitions featuring her watercolors. Awards included were: purchase prize award in watercolor with the Ohio Valley Oil and Watercolor Show (a five state exhibit --- and Veneta's first major exhibit), the Jury of Awards included, American Artist, John Carroll, who made the following comment for the award; "for freshness, simplicity and clarity in use of medium." She won a first prize award at the Lawrence County Fair Exhibition, and a second prize award in the Portsmouth, Ohio Exhibit (Clarence Carter Week Show), Veneta has two paintings in the permanent collection of Ohio University, as well as other paintings in the collections of faculty and staff members. Her work is also represented in various other private collections. She studied in special painting classes at Ohio University with Aaron Bohrod and Charles Burchfield.

In addition to her watercolors Veneta has worked as a draftswomen, a commercial artist and Calligrapher. While residing in Claremont, Veneta was commissioned to create watercolors, as well as other artwork for various organizations including: Condit Elementary School, AAUW and the Claremont Home Tours where for a number of years she prepared the home tours brochures. The AAUW Educational Foundation Fellowship Program honored Veneta by naming a gift of money to the Fellowship Program in her name in recognition of significant service to the purposes of the AAUW Claremont Branch in 1968. She acted as art consultant, and custom frame designer for a family-owned and operated business, "Culotta's Gallery and Custom Framing" in Pomona from 1971 until 1980.

Veneta Studied piano for many years with Evelyn Corn Unrue and Emerson Hoffman and later with Robert Goldsand at the Cincinnati Conservatory of music and was an accomplished musician and pianist.

Veneta is missed, very much, by all in her family. As her husband, I look forward to being reunited with her spirit when my time to depart this motal world arrives.