Louie Falzarano

Louie George Falzarano, 85, formerly of Cobleskill, died Thursday, September 1, 2011 at his residence in Inverness, FL.

He was born September 5, 1925 in Richmondville, and was the son of Tommaso and Giulia (Santoro) Falzarano.

Louie was a United States Marine Corps veteran who served his country during WW II and was a survivor of the battle of Iwo Jima, where he was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart.

Louie was a former communicant of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Cobleskill. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 5088 in Cobleskill, Fraternal Organization of Eagles Aeries of Cobleskill #2695, Inverness Elks Lodge and served as past commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 70 in Inverness.

He worked for the D&H Railroad with his brother, Lorenzo, and their father before and after his military service. Then he worked for Stilson's Heating in Cobleskill for seventeen years before establishing Louie's Plumbing & Heating in Cobleskill in 1964, which he and his wife, Cora, ran before retiring and moving to Inverness in 1972. The family business was then turned over to his sons.

He enjoyed model trains and taking road trips around the country. Louie liked being called upon to help friends and neighbors with any problems around their homes, drawing on his long experience in the building trades. He was a people person and made friends very easily, often striking up conversations with people wherever he went.

On May 5, 2001, Louie received his high school diploma as part of Operation Recognition, a program designed to honor the veterans of WW II.

He is predeceased by his first wife of thirty-four years, Cora Elizabeth (Hollenbeck) Falzarano, a son, Richard Louis (Dolores), a sister, Judy Middlekauf, and a stepdaughter, Jane Liebert.

Survivors include his wife, Doris; a daughter, Bonnie Lou Wilder of Inverness; a son, Joseph (Vanessa) Falzarano of Cobleskill; brothers: Lorenzo of Richmondville, and Thomas (Florence) of Cobleskill; stepson, Robert Conkling of Stratford, CT; a stepdaughter, Gail (Edward) Southard of Inverness; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, September 9, 2011 at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill with Sister Connie James of St. Vincent de Paul Church officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery, Cobleskill. Family and friends are invited to a period of visitation to be held at the funeral home on Friday, from 12:00 PM to 1 PM, prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leatherstocking Honor Flight, PO Box 621, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

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