“You’re going to do what?” That’s the question that everyone asked Angelo and Mary Mazzei when they decided to build their own house from the ground up decades ago.  

 

“Had we known what we were getting into, we probably wouldn’t have tackled it,” laughs Mary. They had never built a house before, but adventure is their middle name. After all, they went on a blind water-skiing date in 1967, starting a whirlwind romance and getting married in 1969. That was 57 years ago, and they say they still like each other!  

 

How did they survive almost 60 years of marriage? “It’s a commitment that you make,” Mary is quick to point out. “You work on it.” Angelo agrees. “Mary is the super neat person,” he says. “I’m the messy person,” he laughs. Mary adds, “We balance each other out in a lot of ways.” 

 

Their sense of adventure has created many fond memories.  “I was teaching school at the time,” says Mary, who holds a Master’s degree in Education. “Angelo was working on his uncle’s farm.” Having the summer off, they planned a trip to Europe.  They purchased Eurail passes, which allowed unlimited train travel. “It was fabulous,” says Mary. They went to the train station, deciding on a whim where to go. With no children and no responsibilities, they visited several countries during their 6-week adventure. 

 

Before they left for Europe, they put a bid on a 20-acre parcel of land. That’s when they decided to build their own house.  Angelo and a neighborhood friend, who was a carpenter, framed the house. Angelo did most of the plumbing and electrical.  His degree in Industrial Technology was instrumental in gaining knowledge to tackle this endeavor.  “It was a 3-year project before we moved in,” says Angelo. Their labor of love even made the local paper in 1975, about the couple who built their own house.  

After graduating from Fresno State College, Angelo went to work at Mazzie Farms, a 10,000-acre vegetable farming operation owned by his uncle. It was there that he identified a pressing need in agricultural irrigation. While delivering water to farmers via aqueducts, he noticed a problem with fertilizer application in pressurized systems. Inspired by a venturi system he had studied in school, Angelo began experimenting in the garage. It paid off. 

 

The result? A revolutionary device that introduces fertilizers and chemicals directly into irrigation water without the need for external pumps. It was life-changing for farmers. People told Angelo, “You ought to see if you can get a patent for that.” He took their advice to heart.  

 

“That was the first patent,” he smiles. “We jumped in with both feet and decided to start our own company.”  

 

In 1978 their daughter was born, the first US patent was issued, and Mazzei Injector Corporation was formed.  Angelo’s invention became widely used around the world in the farming industry. Little did he know that one patent would lead to many others.  

 

“Our second patent diversified into several different industries, including the pool and spa industry for the ozone purification of water,” says Angelo. “Most of the portable spas have our own little injector in them.” Now the municipal and industrial water treatment sector is Angelo’s biggest industry. Today, Angelo holds over 20 U.S. patents, and his innovations touch industries around the world. 

At the country house, Angelo had a shop to pursue his hobby of building hotrods. But, after 36 years of living in the country, Mary was ready to downsize from their 20-acre property and move to town. Although Angelo was reluctant to move at first, Mary was able to entice him with building a new house that would include a showroom garage for his hotrods. 

 

The couple moved to Seven Oaks in 2009, designing and building a home that reflected both their personalities and passions.  

 

“Since we built this house, it’s been a party house,” jokes Angelo. Mary chimes in, “You are supposed to downsize (when you get older). It didn’t work that way.”  

 

The showroom garage actually became a hub of life and a venue for many celebrations. It’s a gathering place for friends and family.  In the showroom, they have held dance lessons, numerous birthday celebrations, their daughter’s wedding reception, their 50th wedding anniversary celebration, and many other gatherings.  Best of all, Angelo’s restored vintage cars are there, and Mary’s oil paintings fill the four walls with personality.  

 

“We like to stay busy and enjoy dancing, entertaining, supporting community events and playing games. We enjoy playing Mahjong and RummiKub with friends on our automated game tables,” says Mary.  

 

Music has always been central to the Mazzei family. Angelo plays the accordion; Mary enjoys playing piano, guitar, and ukulele, and their grandchildren are following in their footsteps. Weekly dinners with their family often include jam sessions using various musical instruments. All members of the family participate.  These times have created priceless memories. 

This happy couple also loves to travel. 

 

Since their products are sold worldwide, they have traveled extensively and forged friendships around the globe. One of those relationships was with a winery in Italy, which just so happened to share the same last name as Angelo. The owners of the Mazzei Winery became friends with Mary and Angelo. “I’ve known them well for over 25 years,” says Angelo. “Francesco Mazzei has done several dinner and wine tastings at different venues in Bakersfield, including Seven Oaks Country Club.”  

From tinkering in a garage to founding a globally recognized company, life has been an adventure for Angelo and Mary. They have touched people around the world with Mazzei Injector Company and are continuing to grow with family involvement and a dedicated group of incredible employees. 

 

Most importantly, they are still going strong. What’s their secret? “Stay busy and enjoy life. That’s how we keep ourselves young,” Mary says. And after nearly six decades together, it’s clear that Angelo and Mary Mazzei have mastered the art of living fully, loving deeply, and building a legacy that inspires.