Roberto Di Mascio

Roberto Di Mascio, 54, of Providence, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on November 6, 2025, after a 3-year battle with esophageal cancer.

Roberto was born on July 30, 1971, in Sulmona, Abruzzo, Italy, the youngest of five children, to his parents Americo and Flora (Ricci) Di Mascio. They settled in Providence’s Federal Hill neighborhood. He graduated from Classical High School in 1989 and from the University of Rhode Island in 1993 with a B.S. in Secondary Education. He started his 32-year career in teaching Italian and Spanish that year. He also graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996 with a M.A. in Italian which led to careers teaching in the Providence Public schools and La Salle Academy. Roberto loved teaching. He taught with enthusiasm, excitement, energy, compassion, understanding and zeal. But he especially enjoyed working at La Salle because of the community and the freedom to incorporate religion into his teaching.

He is survived by his loving wife Maria Mercedes Di Mascio, whom he met while studying abroad in Spain, and their wonderful children Dario, a junior at URI and Sofia, a freshman at Boston College; his brother Francesco ( Rosemery) Di Mascio of Johnston; his sister Rosella (Paul) Ricciardi of Hope; his brother Charles Di Mascio of Johnston and sister Loredana (James) Walker of Exeter; his mother in law Bienvenida Alburquerque and brother in law Julian (Juana) Casado of Spain; twelve nieces and nephews and seven great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Americo and Flora Di Mascio and father in law Julian Casado.

He was an avid sports fan and rooted for the local Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins. He was a diehard fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes in college football. He also enjoyed traveling, cooking, gardening, and reading in his free time.

The family would like to thank the teams at Rhode Island Hospital, Dana Farber, Yale New Haven Hospital and the Hope Hospice for taking great care of him during his battle as well as his family, friends, and the entire La Salle community for their prayers and support during his illness.

His funeral will leave at 9:00 am on Wednesday November 12, 2025, from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston, followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Pius V Church, 240 Eaton St., Providence. Entombment will be at St. Peter and Paul Mausoleum, at St. Ann Cemetery. VISITING Hours will be held Tuesday November 11, 2025, from 4:00 -7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dario and Sofia’s education fund.