1920
Philip
2014
Philip John Azzara, Sr.
August 21, 1920 — June 19, 2014
PHILIP JOHN AZZARA SR.
August 21, 1920 to June 19, 2014
Philip John Azzara Sr., 93, died in Smithtown, New York, at 12:10 P.M. on Thursday, June 19, 2014.
He was born in New York on August 21, 1920 to Italian immigrant parents, Benedetto & Susanna Azzara, at 236 Elizabeth Street in the borough of Manhattan. When he was an infant, he had a bad case of influenza and almost did not survive.
His parents owned and operated a bakery and the first macaroni factory in New York City, and as he and his brother Cosmo and his sisters, Mary, Josephine, and Rose became old enough to do chores, they started to help with the pasta making and in the retail store. He attended Old St. Patricks Parochial School and Textile Straubenmuller High School.
From 1939 to 1942 he worked for the infant clothing manufacturer Attias Brothers in shipping, receiving, and inventory control. In September 1942 he entered the US Army and was stationed at Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico as an aircraft electrician and supply clerk. After sustaining an injury to his left eye, he was transferred to Wakeman General Hospital in Indiana. He completed the last seven months of his military service at Camp Atterbury in Edinburg, Indiana and received an Honorable Discharge on February 21, 1946.
While stationed at Camp Atterbury, he frequently attended the USO functions at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. One night, he turned to his buddy, pointed and said, You see that girl over there Thats the girl Im going to marry, and he went over to the table of girls and asked Mescal Sare of Perrysville to dance. On their first date, he gave Mescal a sketch of his profile and signed it "your future husband." She gave him a very strange look and then laughed.
A year later, on December 25, 1946, they were married and settled down in Crane, Indiana, where he worked at the naval depot. While in Crane, he organized the first Whitesett Family Reunion, which continues on the 3rd Sunday of each June to this day.
They moved to Perrysville, and, active in the community, he was a charter member of the Perrysville Fire Department. In 1954, he opened up the Fountain of Youth soda shop on Main Street in Perrysville, and Mescal ran her beauty salon in the back. All the local teenagers went to the Fountain of Youth, listened to their favorite music on the jukebox, danced, and drank cherry cokes, shakes, egg creams and malteds.
Business got tougher in the late 1950s, and Phil longed to get back to New York to be with his side of the family. In 1960, he bought a Cape Cod House on a hill in Commack, NY and moved the family east. At that time, Commack was one of the fastest growing communities in the US. He was never at a loss for work and applied his experience as Inventory Control Manager at companies like Kollsman Instruments, Melcor Electronics, Automated Processes, Fire Research, and Micro Computer Controls.
He was known for his wry sense of humor. What made him special was that his quick wit always came from a place of love and never at someone elses expense. A testament to that is that after 67-1/2 years together, he could still make Mescal laugh.
He is survived by his wife, Mescal Azzara; his children, Linda (Walter) Baker, Angie (John) Baker, Philip (Colleen) Azzara Jr; his grandchildren Brian (Sandy) Baker, Sean Baker, Amy (Chad) Bowshier, Kevin Baker, Philip Azzara III, Ryan Azzara, Courtney (Nick) Azzara-D'Agostino, Brett Azzara; his great grandchildren Tristyn Gossett, Julie Baker, Matt Baker, Braylon Daniels; his sister, Rose Green; sister-in-law, Antoinette Azzara, and by his beloved niece and nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his sisters Josephine Azzara and Mary Curatolo and his brother Cosmo Azzara.
Visitation will be at Shelby Funeral Home at 622 Third Street, Covington, IN on Wednesday June 25, 2014, 5:00 to 8:00 p. m. EDT. Funeral services will be June 26, 2014 at 11:00 a. m. EDT. Pastor Kyle Allen will officiate, and burial will follow in Lower Mound Cemetery, Covington, Indiana. Condolences to the family: www.shelbyfuneralhome.com
August 21, 1920 to June 19, 2014
Philip John Azzara Sr., 93, died in Smithtown, New York, at 12:10 P.M. on Thursday, June 19, 2014.
He was born in New York on August 21, 1920 to Italian immigrant parents, Benedetto & Susanna Azzara, at 236 Elizabeth Street in the borough of Manhattan. When he was an infant, he had a bad case of influenza and almost did not survive.
His parents owned and operated a bakery and the first macaroni factory in New York City, and as he and his brother Cosmo and his sisters, Mary, Josephine, and Rose became old enough to do chores, they started to help with the pasta making and in the retail store. He attended Old St. Patricks Parochial School and Textile Straubenmuller High School.
From 1939 to 1942 he worked for the infant clothing manufacturer Attias Brothers in shipping, receiving, and inventory control. In September 1942 he entered the US Army and was stationed at Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico as an aircraft electrician and supply clerk. After sustaining an injury to his left eye, he was transferred to Wakeman General Hospital in Indiana. He completed the last seven months of his military service at Camp Atterbury in Edinburg, Indiana and received an Honorable Discharge on February 21, 1946.
While stationed at Camp Atterbury, he frequently attended the USO functions at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. One night, he turned to his buddy, pointed and said, You see that girl over there Thats the girl Im going to marry, and he went over to the table of girls and asked Mescal Sare of Perrysville to dance. On their first date, he gave Mescal a sketch of his profile and signed it "your future husband." She gave him a very strange look and then laughed.
A year later, on December 25, 1946, they were married and settled down in Crane, Indiana, where he worked at the naval depot. While in Crane, he organized the first Whitesett Family Reunion, which continues on the 3rd Sunday of each June to this day.
They moved to Perrysville, and, active in the community, he was a charter member of the Perrysville Fire Department. In 1954, he opened up the Fountain of Youth soda shop on Main Street in Perrysville, and Mescal ran her beauty salon in the back. All the local teenagers went to the Fountain of Youth, listened to their favorite music on the jukebox, danced, and drank cherry cokes, shakes, egg creams and malteds.
Business got tougher in the late 1950s, and Phil longed to get back to New York to be with his side of the family. In 1960, he bought a Cape Cod House on a hill in Commack, NY and moved the family east. At that time, Commack was one of the fastest growing communities in the US. He was never at a loss for work and applied his experience as Inventory Control Manager at companies like Kollsman Instruments, Melcor Electronics, Automated Processes, Fire Research, and Micro Computer Controls.
He was known for his wry sense of humor. What made him special was that his quick wit always came from a place of love and never at someone elses expense. A testament to that is that after 67-1/2 years together, he could still make Mescal laugh.
He is survived by his wife, Mescal Azzara; his children, Linda (Walter) Baker, Angie (John) Baker, Philip (Colleen) Azzara Jr; his grandchildren Brian (Sandy) Baker, Sean Baker, Amy (Chad) Bowshier, Kevin Baker, Philip Azzara III, Ryan Azzara, Courtney (Nick) Azzara-D'Agostino, Brett Azzara; his great grandchildren Tristyn Gossett, Julie Baker, Matt Baker, Braylon Daniels; his sister, Rose Green; sister-in-law, Antoinette Azzara, and by his beloved niece and nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his sisters Josephine Azzara and Mary Curatolo and his brother Cosmo Azzara.
Visitation will be at Shelby Funeral Home at 622 Third Street, Covington, IN on Wednesday June 25, 2014, 5:00 to 8:00 p. m. EDT. Funeral services will be June 26, 2014 at 11:00 a. m. EDT. Pastor Kyle Allen will officiate, and burial will follow in Lower Mound Cemetery, Covington, Indiana. Condolences to the family: www.shelbyfuneralhome.com
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