There is now a "Vito-shaped" hole in the world that a wonderful father/husband/uncle/ grandpa/brother/son-in-law/friend once occupied.  He lost his fight with Frontal Temporal Dementia - the most aggressive form of Dementia on the evening of April 28, 2022. 

How do you even start to explain to someone that never knew him why he was so unique or how much of an impact he had on so many lives?  How do you compress 74 years of existence into a few paragraphs?  I can't begin to do his life justice, but I'll try to highlight some of the things that stood out for me.

Born in Sicily, he came to the USA at the age of 22 and worked extremely hard for everything.  He didn't speak any English when he arrived, but after meeting my mother, they made a notebook where he taught her Italian, and she taught him English.  (Their love story could (and should, in my opinion) be turned into a movie, but I digress. 

Vito was always a man who "did" when other people would stand around wondering what to do.  There was never any hesitation.  This is something that impressed me no end.  Here are a few other things that he was/liked being:

HAPPY - He had the kind of smile that would make you smile even if you felt sad.  His laugh wasn't just "a laugh;" it was full of joy and his whole person shook with it. 

CENTER-OF-ATTENTION - He loved being in the limelight; loved "showing off" while throwing pizzas high up in air for his audiences in the pizzerias/restaurant.  He would let out a "eee-aaa" (hard to describe) sound as they were thrown up nearly to the ceiling and people would cheer.  He would also sing loudly, usually in Italian, while working.  

KIND - He was the kindest man who would do anything for anyone without hesitation.  He would make people who felt "unimportant" or "small," feel like the most special of people.  He just had a way about him.  He was a "people-person" and loved talking to everyone.   

COURAGEOUS - He was a courageous and just man who always did the right thing, whether it was standing up for someone not being treated fairly, pulling people to safety from car accidents, (twice while I was with him) saving the lives of animals (one example standing in the middle of a very busy road and waving like a madman at a fast-approaching truck (going way above the speed limit) while a family of Quail were crossing the road - successfully saving them.

LOVING - He was an incredibly loving husband, father, uncle and grandfather who would do anything for his family.  Family was always first to him.  He worked so hard, both physically and mentally and absolutely adored his wife like no other.  She was his angel and he called her this all the time.  You would always see them holding hands, or arms wrapped around each other, or kissing for no reason.  He would leave her little notes in Italian and buy her flowers for no reason.  He engraved their names with a heart (his signature move) in the foundations of the house and barns that he built - they were together for 52 years. He was at his happiest and most content when she was right next to him.  He was an amazing father/uncle.  He loved Concetta, Maria and I and taught us so much; we worked every Friday night and all day Saturday at the pizzerias/restaurant and later the horse farm.  (Not me so much as I didn't share his passion for horses.)  He was thrilled when his grandchildren Jonathan and Samantha came into the world and so happy again nearly 10 years ago when Harrison and Sophia next joined the family.

I can honestly say that the world is a sadder place without him in it.

Vito and his wife Judith, always said: "Give me my roses while I'm alive. There's no point putting them on my grave as I won't be able to appreciate them." 

Therefore, instead of flowers, or any other gesture, we ask that you make a donation on this page in his memory.  The Alzheimer's Association provided a lot of comfort and guidance and better prepared us for what was to come with his terrible disease that robbed us too soon of our father/husband.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.

~Rachel  (Judith, Maria and Concetta)