Michael Robert Amarante Sr.

DANVILLE - Michael Robert Amarante Sr., 79, of Danville, passed away on Monday, May 18, 2009, having succumbed to cancer.
He was born Sept. 23, 1929, in Brooklyn, N.Y., a son of Italian immigrants, Rocco and Angela Maria (Sepe) Amarante. On Sept. 2, 1950, he married the former Theresa Colette Liberda, who survives. They celebrated 59 years of marriage.
Michael served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War.
He was a highly decorated first-grade detective in the New York Police Department, where he was exceptional in his field. His intuitive and intelligent approach to solving criminal cases earned him significant citations and commendations with valor.
After an illustrious 22 years, he moved with his family from Long Island to rural Liberty Township, Pa., in 1974. He took a position at Bucknell University in the Department of Public Safety and became captain of the force. He was known for his firm, charitable approach to enforcement and was fondly referred to as "Captain Mike" and "Mike the Cop" by administrators, faculty, staff and students. Captain Mike retired in 1994.
Michael was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Danville, a member of the New York City Policemen's Benevolent Association and a retired member of the Detectives' Endowment Association of New York City.
He was an avid gardener and shared his produce generously. He enjoyed living in the country, cooking and baking, playing cards and giving his grandchildren rides on the tractor and wagon. He also enjoyed having big family meals. Beyond the traditional "please" and "thank you," the magic words at his table were always "Mangia, mangia, bella mia!"
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Michael Amarante, Phillip and Susan Amarante and Gregory and Ellen Amarante, all of Danville; one daughter and son-in-law, Colette and John Saufley of Hummelstown; and 11 grandchildren, Jessica and Holly, Monica, Peter and Theresa, Rachael and Phillip, Joseph, Rachel, Joanna and Joshua.
He was preceded in death by his eldest sister, Alessandra "Annie," his brother, James, his sister, Josie, and three other siblings.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Church, 18 E. Center St., Danville, with the Very Rev. William M. Weary officiating.
A committal service with military rites will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 6, in the mausoleum at All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Smile Train, 28th Floor, 41 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010, http://www.smiletrain.org, or Columbia-Montour Home Health Services/VNA, 410 Glenn Ave., Suite 200, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Visneski Funeral Home Inc., 10 W. Mahoning St., Danville.