Frank Philip Pezze Jr.

10/29/2006

Frank Philip Pezze Jr., 80, of Guilderland, N.Y., a native of Sheffield, died Sunday after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was the owner of Pega Risk Managers Inc. in Guilderland. Born in Sheffield on Jan. 3, 1926, son of Frank Pezze Sr. and Christine Edgecomb Pezze, he was a 1944 graduate of the former Searles High School, where he was class president. A World War II Army veteran, he served in Europe as a captain in the Artillery Division. He later joined the 109th Division of the Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He was director of personnel and an Air Force Academy liaison officer. After the war, he graduated from Albany Business College. In 1954, he graduated from Siena College with a degree in finance and was listed in Who's Who of American Colleges. Mr. Pezze founded Pega Risk Managers Inc. in 1974. He ran the business until 2000 before retiring and leaving the business to two sons, Kevin Pezze of Delmar, N.Y., and Dan Pezze of Slingerlands, N.Y. In 1998, he was honored in Who's Who Among Top Executives. He was a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents Association. He was a longtime usher and communicant of St. Madeleine Sophie's Church. He enjoyed skiing, tennis at his winter home in Venice, Fla., racketball and playing golf at Pinehaven Golf Course in Guilderland. He and his wife, the former Dorothy Ruth Haskell, were married 55 years. Besides his wife, he leaves another son, Frank P. Pezze III of Guilderland; two daughters, Mary Ellen Kokoletsos of Clifton Park, N.Y., Eileen Humes of Delaware, N.Y., and Kathleen Jackson of Guilderland; twin sisters, Anna Buckley of Sheffield and Norma Cullivan of Weymouth; a brother, Francis Pezze of Latham, N.Y.; and 16 grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Frank Philip Pezze, who died Oct. 29, 2006, surrounded by family, will be Thursday at 9:15 at DeMarco Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Wester Turnpike, Guilderland (just west of Carman Road) with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 at St. Madeleine Sophie's Church. Interment will be in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna. Calling hours will be tomorrow from 5 to 8 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of New York state. Special thanks to his devoted personnel and health staff. He also leaves daughters-in-law Susan Avellino (Frank), Carol Rappaport (Kevin) and Carol Ryan (Dan); two sons-in-law, John Kokoletsos and Steve Humes; two brothers-in-law, Tom Buckley of Sheffield and Larry Cullivan of Weymouth; a sister-in-law, Carol Pezze; and his 16 loving grandchildren, Jennifer, Meghan, Ashley, Francesca, McKenzie, Madison, Tara, Brian, Kristin, Michael, Ian, Cole, Danielle, Erin, Brandon and Leah. He was predeceased by a sister, Marion Miraglia.

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