NATALINO "NALIE" PALOMBO

PALOMBO
NATALINO "NALIE"
Natalino "Nalie" Palombo, age 89, of Aliquippa, passed away, Sunday, December 3, 2017, in Allegheny General Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. A lifelong resident of Aliquippa, he was the son of the late Anthony and Frances (Panella) Palombo. Born December 25, 1927, he was named Natalino, or "Little Christmas", and would have celebrated his 90th birthday this Christmas. A devout Catholic, Nalie was a parishioner of St. Titus Church, where he served as an usher and was a member of The Holy Name Society. Nalie was a US Army veteran and proudly served his country during the Korean War. He worked at J&L Steel for 44 years, and upon his retirement, started a second career at The Celtic Reds Club where he had the pleasure to tend bar for family and friends for 25 years. He loved sports and was a die-hard Quip football and basketball fan. His favorite sport was baseball, as a player, coach, and fan. He was a member of the 1946 Aliquippa HS WPIAL Championship team, and played in the Aliquippa Community League for years. He had the honor to continue his baseball career when he was selected to play for his army battalion team that competed in semi-pro leagues throughout Germany. He extended his love for baseball to the Aliquippa Little League, Pony League, and Colt League teams, where he coached for more than 20 years and mentored hundreds of youths, who continued to refer to him as Coach Nalie in their adult lives. He was a charter member and officer of The Panthers Athletic Club, and was also a member of The Celtic Reds, and The American Italian Club. He loved watching old western and war movies, listening to Big Band Swing music, and could always be found in the middle of the dance circle at weddings leading the Chicken Dance and Hokey Pokey. In addition to his parents, Nalie was preceded in death by his ever-loving wife, Elvira (Tarquinio) Palombo, with whom he celebrated 63 wonderful years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by a sister, five brothers, and their spouses: Elda (Nick) Yanessa, Willie (Christie), Augie, Guido "Geets", Adolph, and Florige "Porky" (Mary Lou) Palombo; brother-in-law, Melvin Kosanovich; a special sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Rita (Tarquinio) and Anthony Colantoni; and son-in-law, Mike Hramika. Nalie is survived by his daughters, Linda Hramika, Madelyn (Rick) Hyre, and Mariann (Todd) Fox; and a son, Ed (Lisa) Palombo. His most cherished treasures and memories are as Pap Pap to his grandchildren, Eric (Leslie) Hramika, Lindsey and Jason (Chelsea) Hyre, and Mia and Ryan Fox. He leaves behind a very special niece and nephew, Adriana (Colantoni) and Gary Mariani, and their twins, Anthony and Maria. He is also survived by a sister, Olga Kosanovich; sisters-in-law, Mary and Zenaida Palombo, and Anna Jane Buckoske; and numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren of the Palombo and Tarquinio families. He will be sadly missed by dearest friends of the Mansueti, Piroli, and Rossi families, and Diana Hlad who took great care of him in recent years. Friends will be received Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. in TATALOVICH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 2205 McMinn St., Aliquippa, PA 15001, where a service will be held Wednesday at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m., in St. Titus Catholic Church in Aliquippa, with Fr. Tom Wilson, officiating. Entombment will follow at 10:45 a.m. in Mt. Olivet Catholic Church in Hopewell Twp., where the Beaver County Special Unit will conduct military honors. The family would like to extend sincere thanks to the staff at both Allegheny General Hospital Intensive Care and Critical Care Units, and The Villa St. Joseph for all their care and compassion.