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In Memory of
Salvatore P "Sal"
Graffeo
Graffeo
2018
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Obituary for Salvatore P "Sal" Graffeo
Salvatore P. Graffeo
9/7/1936-10/22/2018
Salvatore (“Sal”) Graffeo (age 82), who resided in Brooklyn, New York passed away in Virginia Beach, Virginia from complications associated with a malignant tumor of his head and neck.
Sal was born on September 7th, 1936 at home, on 149 Elizabeth Street in New York’s “Little Italy” to Carlogero (Charles) Graffeo and Ignacia (Nettie) Currao. He was the 9th of 11 children (Mary Fundaro (deceased), Gus Graffeo (deceased), Catherine DeCandia, Joseph Graffeo (deceased), Faye Alberti (deceased), GussiAnn Savoca, Gloria Sarola (deceased), Beatrice Maniaci, Tom Graffeo and Carmella Nieroda (deceased). Hard work was a fundamental tenet of the Graffeo family with everyone contributing to the family during lean times. At the age of 15 he was employed by both a local kosher butcher (delivery boy) and fish market (cleaner).
At the age of 15 he first met his newly arrived next-door neighbor Loretta DeMaio. Sal foretold his marriage to Loretta on the stoop of her childhood home and on November 10th, 1956 in the tradition of the Italian “football wedding” and with over 400 guests in attendance, Sal married his childhood sweetheart and together they have celebrated 62 years of marriage.
His career trajectory included working as a pressman for the New York Daily News and New York Times however, his true passion was in education. He returned to school and graduated from New York University with credentials in education and Industrial Arts. He retired after thirty years of service as a Drug Prevention Counselor for the New York City Board of Education.
He was an inspiration to untold numbers of elementary and junior high school students. His passion for kids led him to open the first teenage disco in Brooklyn, New York, “Patches,” which was hugely successful.
Sal often stated he had “two birthdays” with his second being August 1st, 2002 when he received a heart transplant at Columbia University. His precious gift from a young woman was honored by the impeccable care he received from his Cardiac Transplant Team at Columbia and in particular, Dr. Susan Restaino his transplant cardiologist.
He is survived by his wife, Loretta Graffeo, children Charles Salvatore Graffeo, MD (wife Patricia) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sr. Mary Loretta, Sisters of Life, Stamford Connecticut, Debra Schmidt (husband John Schmidt, JD), grandchildren, Christopher Salvatore Graffeo, MD (wife Audrey), Elizabeth Huey, JD (husband Adam Huey), Hannah Graffeo MIIPS, Katherine Schmidt LSW, Allison Schmidt and great-grandchild Leif Salvatore Graffeo.
Donations in lieu of flowers to: Sisters of Life Sisters of Life Donate here
Sisters of Life
38 Montebello Rd.
Suffern, NY 10901
9/7/1936-10/22/2018
Salvatore (“Sal”) Graffeo (age 82), who resided in Brooklyn, New York passed away in Virginia Beach, Virginia from complications associated with a malignant tumor of his head and neck.
Sal was born on September 7th, 1936 at home, on 149 Elizabeth Street in New York’s “Little Italy” to Carlogero (Charles) Graffeo and Ignacia (Nettie) Currao. He was the 9th of 11 children (Mary Fundaro (deceased), Gus Graffeo (deceased), Catherine DeCandia, Joseph Graffeo (deceased), Faye Alberti (deceased), GussiAnn Savoca, Gloria Sarola (deceased), Beatrice Maniaci, Tom Graffeo and Carmella Nieroda (deceased). Hard work was a fundamental tenet of the Graffeo family with everyone contributing to the family during lean times. At the age of 15 he was employed by both a local kosher butcher (delivery boy) and fish market (cleaner).
At the age of 15 he first met his newly arrived next-door neighbor Loretta DeMaio. Sal foretold his marriage to Loretta on the stoop of her childhood home and on November 10th, 1956 in the tradition of the Italian “football wedding” and with over 400 guests in attendance, Sal married his childhood sweetheart and together they have celebrated 62 years of marriage.
His career trajectory included working as a pressman for the New York Daily News and New York Times however, his true passion was in education. He returned to school and graduated from New York University with credentials in education and Industrial Arts. He retired after thirty years of service as a Drug Prevention Counselor for the New York City Board of Education.
He was an inspiration to untold numbers of elementary and junior high school students. His passion for kids led him to open the first teenage disco in Brooklyn, New York, “Patches,” which was hugely successful.
Sal often stated he had “two birthdays” with his second being August 1st, 2002 when he received a heart transplant at Columbia University. His precious gift from a young woman was honored by the impeccable care he received from his Cardiac Transplant Team at Columbia and in particular, Dr. Susan Restaino his transplant cardiologist.
He is survived by his wife, Loretta Graffeo, children Charles Salvatore Graffeo, MD (wife Patricia) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sr. Mary Loretta, Sisters of Life, Stamford Connecticut, Debra Schmidt (husband John Schmidt, JD), grandchildren, Christopher Salvatore Graffeo, MD (wife Audrey), Elizabeth Huey, JD (husband Adam Huey), Hannah Graffeo MIIPS, Katherine Schmidt LSW, Allison Schmidt and great-grandchild Leif Salvatore Graffeo.
Donations in lieu of flowers to: Sisters of Life Sisters of Life Donate here
Sisters of Life
38 Montebello Rd.
Suffern, NY 10901
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