Vincent A. DiSanzo

Vincent A. “Vinny” DiSanzo, of Westborough, Mass., passed away on July 3, 2026. He was 49.

Vinny was a true son of Lowell, Massachusetts. He was shaped by its neighborhoods, its history, its people, and its train tracks. The oldest of three brothers, he fiercely protected John and Tony, who often said they never had to learn how to fight because Vin was always there to protect them. Loyalty defined him, and throughout his life, Vinny would step in when someone needed defending. Just as importantly, he knew when a kind word or some well-timed trash talk was what someone needed to hear.

As a teen, Vinny discovered two passions that would shape the rest of his life: style writing and music. Though he loved artists of every genre, Vinny became particularly immersed in the Grateful Dead and Phish. The music, the shows, and the tours became both the soundtrack to his life and a constant source of inspiration for his artistic expression, opening the door to lifelong friendships and a cherished community. It was during his time following Phish on tour that he adopted the moniker “AVES,” a name by which he would become widely known and respected by an international community of graffiti artists.

Vinny’s life was driven by a relentless need to leave a mark. A lifelong student of letterforms and local history, he took over leadership of the graffiti crew Ⓣ in 2000, a cohort of artists founded in Lowell in the 1980s. Building on the foundation laid before him, Vinny became the architect of the crew’s new era, helping define a uniquely New England stylistic aesthetic and putting Boston on the world graffiti map. Named after the MBTA’s iconic logo, Ⓣ earned international respect under Vinny’s leadership through increasingly ambitious clean trains, streets, freights, and murals. He became the big brother and mentor to multiple generations of writers, teaching that graffiti was far more than scribbled letters left on a wall.

For Vinny, respect was earned, never freely given. And his standards never changed based on pedigree or experience. He relished spirited conversation and debate, challenging himself and those around him to think deeper, work harder, and keep evolving. He believed the greatest respect he could show someone was to challenge them to improve. Never content to stand still, Vinny would master a style only to abandon it in pursuit of something new, always searching for the next idea worth exploring. Yet he remained a traditionalist, committed to preserving and advancing the region’s unique letterform heritage.

In 2015, Vinny met the love of his life, Cathy. Together they found joy in being fully known and wholeheartedly accepted by one another. The two married in 2016 and built a life rooted in love and unwavering partnership. With the birth of their daughter, Vivian, Vinny discovered the greatest joy of his life. He embraced fatherhood with the same passion, loyalty, and devotion that defined everything he did. Whether wrestling on the living room floor, sharing a silly laugh, or fiercely advocating for her, Vinny was an extraordinary father whose tenderness surprised and inspired everyone fortunate enough to witness it.

Vinny fearlessly embraced life. He sought new experiences and adventures, somehow emerging from more close calls than anyone could count. Those stories became part of his legend, always retold with an infectious laugh. His friends and family will continue to tell his stories. He will be forever missed.

Vinny is survived by his beloved wife, Cathy DiSanzo; his cherished daughter, Vivian DiSanzo; his mother, Mary DiSanzo; his father, Anthony DiSanzo; his brothers, John DiSanzo and Tony DiSanzo, and Tony’s wife, Courtney Dunn; his nieces and nephew; an extended family of lifelong friends; and his Ⓣ brethren. His influence will live on through these relationships, the art he created, and the enduring legacy of his name.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vincent A. DiSanzo’s memory to the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation, a cause close to his family’s heart. https://pmsf.org