Maureen Elizabeth Vaccaro

Maureen Elizabeth Vaccaro of Santa Clarita, California went to be with the Lord, on Monday, August 22nd, 2022, at the age of 74 after a nearly four-year-long battle with breast cancer. She left behind her beloved husband of 50 years, Joe Vaccaro, their three daughters, Jennifer, Marirose, and Jacqueline, and her two grandsons, Cody and James.

Maureen was born on January 24, 1948 in Binghamton, New York, to her parents William and Marian Maher. Maureen’s parents had six more children - Michael, Anne, Peggy, Billy, Terre, and Patty. The family moved to Lexington, Massachusetts in 1959 and she graduated from Lexington High School in 1966. In 1970, Maureen graduated from Anna Maria Women’s College in Paxton, Massachusetts, where she majored in French and Education.

Maureen was an avid swimmer and became a certified Red Cross swim instructor. In 1968, Maureen worked as a lifeguard at Adams’ swimming pool and it was there that she met Joe Vaccaro. They dated four years and married in Lexington, Massachusetts on July 8, 1972. Immediately following their wedding, they drove cross-country to their new apartment in Panorama City, California.

Being the eldest of 7 children, Maureen was a natural-born leader and had a teacher’s heart from a young age. She began her teaching career in 1972 as a substitute English teacher in the Glendale public school system. She was hired at Alemany High School in 1972 as an English Teacher and then was promoted to the Dean of Girls. She then taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope middle school as an English Teacher in Newhall, California from 1976 – 1980.

When Maureen had her three daughters in the 1980s, she transitioned from teaching in the classroom and chose to homeschool her daughters their entire school-age years from kindergarten through 12th grade, which was an against-the-norm concept at the time.

Maureen offered Joe moral support when he started their company, Aptek Laboratories, Inc., in her kitchen in Newhall, California, in 1986. In 2007, when the AS9100 certification became a requirement to sell products to major aerospace companies, Maureen began to work full-time at Aptek. Her strengths in English and writing were beneficial to develop the extensive documentation necessary to comply with this new aerospace standard, as well as be Aptek’s Management Representative for the audit program. In addition, Maureen’s administration skills and love for people were key factors in the development of Aptek’s Human Resource Department. She went on to earn her PHR certificate.

Maureen’s life was built on her faith and hope in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was passionate about working in children's and women’s ministries at her church. She was an Awana leader for 20 years, served on staff in youth group, and led shepherding groups to high school-aged girls and many women’s Bible studies.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life Service at 11am on Saturday, October 8th, 2022, at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, CA.