Eugene B. Scerbo

02/17/2006

Eugene B. Scerbo, 86, of 460 Walker St. died Friday evening at North Adams Regional Hospital where he was admitted earlier in the day. Born in North Adams on July 23, 1919, he was a son of Ferdinando "Fred" Scerbo and Maria Scerbo Scerbo, both of whom had emigrated from Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. He was educated in North Adams schools and graduated from Drury High School in 1937. Mr. Scerbo joined the General Electric Co. Power Transformer Division in Pittsfield, and completed the GE Apprentice Program for tool making in 1941. He was a veteran of World War II and served as a combat gunner on a B-24 with the U.S. Army Air Force. He served as a staff sergeant with the 740th Bomb Squadron of the 455th Bomber Group, 15th Air Force, from Jan. 12, 1944, until his honorable discharge on June 28, 1945. He participated in the battles of Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley, Southern France, Air Combat Balkans, and Rhineland. On his 25th mission, his crew was shot down over Poland while bombing oil refineries. He was one of six survivors, and he voluntarily returned with three others to complete 10 more missions before his honorable discharge. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Following the war, Mr. Scerbo returned to North Adams and resumed his career as a tool maker for GE, and he served as a foreman of the apprentice section of the GE Transformer Division. In 1953, he was appointed as a tool estimator. In 1957, he transferred to the GE Ordnance Division as a methods specialist and his other job roles including producibility engineer. He worked on the Polaris, Trident and Bradley fighting tank programs. In 1982, he retired from the GE with 44 years of service to the company. Mr. Scerbo was a lifelong communicant of St. Anthony's Church. He served as a CCD teacher, lector, and elected member of the parish council. He served on the executive committee that was responsible for the construction of the St. Anthony's Parish Center. For many years, he worked for church functions, including the annual St. Anthony's Bazaar and LaFesta Carnevale. Mr. Scerbo was a longtime member of the North Adams Republican City Committee and the Massachusetts State Republican Party. He was a member of the North Adams Liquor Licensing Commission, under Mayor Francis Florini. He was a member of the Berkshire County Sheriff's Association, and he was also a life member and past venerable of the North Adams Sons of Italy and the North Adams Lodge of Elks. Mr. Scerbo was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he enjoyed horseracing and playing cards. In his retirement, he enjoyed socializing with his friends for daily coffee. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, the former Catherine Rita Ghidotti, whom he married on Oct. 30, 1948, in St. Anthony's; two daughters, Mary Ann Caproni of North Adams, and Rosemary Crouch of Adams; a son, Robert J. Scerbo of Williamstown; a sister, Elena "Helen" Casuscelli of North Adams; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. A son, Fred B. Scerbo, died May 21, 2002. FUNERAL NOTICE: The funeral for Eugene B. Scerbo will be held Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, at 10 a.m. at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St., North Adams, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church. Burial will be in Southview Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home are Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Donations to St. Anthony Capital Campaign or North Adams Regional Hospital CARE Campaign in care of the funeral home. Survivors include two daughters-in law, Nancy Moresi Scerbo and Ann Leonesio Scerbo; two sons-in-law, Alfred Caproni and Timothy Crouch; six grandchildren, Angela Scerbo, Peter Scerbo and his wife, and Justine, Christopher Caproni and his wife, Pamela, and Gregory Caproni, Jeffrey Crouch and Steven Crouch; three great-grandchildren, Abby Kate Caproni, Ella Caproni and Cameron Honiker; and nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. A sister, Amalia "Molly" Siciliano, and a brother, Dominick Scerbo, are deceased.

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