Augustus “Gus” Mocerino aka Vic Greco

Augustus P. Mocerino “Gus” aka Vic Greco, age 88, passed away on June 21st, 2016 at home in Havertown, PA.

Throughout the 1960s to 1980s as ‘Vic Greco’, he was a popular television and nightclub writer and entertainer in New York City, Hollywood and nationwide. A comedian’s comedian, Greco was a favorite of Steve Allen, Merv Griffin and Jack E. Leonard among other prominent comedians of the era.

Greco enjoyed wide success playing the nightclub circuit across the country in many legendary venues such as The Hungry I and The Purple Onion in San Francisco, Mister Kelly’s in Chicago and The Ice House in Pasedena who billed him as “….a scrappy comic featuring his rubber stamp routines.” He was described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “….a short, malevolent, and rather like a demoniacal, cigar-smoking file clerk who just blew up the bank….” and was also repeatedly well reviewed by the Chicago Daily News saying “Greco, a Groucho Marx character, replete with cigar, evokes strong reactions from the audience. He’s a delight.”

During this time, Greco was a stand-up favorite at the Tropicana Las Vegas, a recurring character on The Mike Douglas Show and appeared on Alan Hamel’s Comedy Bag (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Greco also wrote for The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show (Jay Ward Productions) and Hanna-Barbera Productions, additionally writing comedy material and jokes for several fellow comedians of the period.

Starting out in the famous 1960’s “beat” nightclubs such as Village Vanguard, The Bitter End and Cafe Wah in Greenwich Village, NY, Greco next formed half of the comedy team of Vic Greco and Fred Willard. The duo quickly gained attention with their original comedy skits, physical comedy routines, “….flawless timing, wild and utterly outrageous sequences….” (San Francisco Chronicle), “….dry humor and devastatingly deadpan approach….” (CUE). With Variety billing them as “A real firecracker” and The Hollywood Reporter predicting their non-stop success, ‘Greco and Willard’ also appeared in the famous Playboy Clubs across the country and were soon making numerous television appearances including The Smother’s Brothers Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Johnny Carson Show, The Merv Griffin Show, Mel Brooks’ “Get Smart” TV series and others.

During the last 30 years of his life, Greco, returning to his birth name, Gus Mocerino, continued writing comedy articles and other published works including “Got a Minute?” and other periodical columns for various newspapers including The Philadelphia Inquirer, Palm Beach Post (FL), Delaware County Daily Times (PA) and News of Delaware County (PA). A passionate pianist as well, Mocerino wrote many original songs and received two Make Music Alabama Song Writing Awards (2010 and 2011). He extensively performed his “Music and Comedy of Gus Mocerino” show at numerous venues and especially enjoyed performing for Veterans Clubs, hospitals and retirement communities throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Additionally, Mocerino taught public speaking at American Broadcasting School in Philadelphia and conducted “Speaking with Humor” seminars through his own Delgus Productions. He directed numerous plays in colleges and trade schools where he also taught math, drafting and shop trades including Newark Technical College in New Jersey, Delaware County Community College in Media, PA and Delaware Valley Trade School in Chester, PA.

As an avid tennis player later in life, Mocerino received six 1st Place Awards for Doubles and Singles Tennis in the Delaware County, PA Senior Games Tennis Tournaments. Never slowing down and with a fierce zest for life, he continued working on electrical, plumbing, automobile and all manner of handyman projects. His handyman slogan was “Don’t Fuss…Call Gus!”

A U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran, Mocerino served in the Occupational Forces in Okinawa, Japan from 1945-1947. Receiving his B.S. in Civil Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ in 1952, he also worked as an engineer for American Aviation in Los Angeles, Worthington Corporation in Harrison, NJ and Crane Corporation in King of Prussia, PA.

Gus Mocerino aka Vic Greco will be fondly remembered for his gregarious sense of humor, boundless energy, child-like curiosity, genuine interest in people, and for altogether living life to the fullest and leaving no stone left unturned. He was laid to rest at Brig. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ on July 1st, 2016 and is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 60 years, Adele (Greco) Mocerino; his two daughters, Lisa Grecco of New York, NY and Christine Harrington of Barnegat, NJ; and his two grand-daughters, Brigid and Shannon Harrington of Barnegat.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675