Walter Monaco

MONACO, WALTER E. Walter E. Monaco, 91, of San Antonio, TX, died on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at his home. He was born in New Haven, CT on October 16, 1921 to the late Emanuel and Jennie Maiorano Monaco. Walter's life and accomplishments reads like an amazing novel. Chapter 1 begins with a boy growing up and attending schools in East Haven. After graduation, he would join the Army to serve during WWII. Chapter 2, Master Sergeant William Monaco is assigned to the U.S. Army First Division (nicknamed the Big Red One). While with this unit, he would find himself fighting on D-Day at Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge and the Bridge at Remagen. He was also a champion Boxer for the Army during his enlistment, and, during the same period, served as an escort for Boxer Joe Louis who was there to visit the troops and for the liberation of Mauthausen Concentration Camp. His service and sacrifice for his country would earn him a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Chapter 3, Walter remains in Germany after the war and makes his mark in both business and sport. He founded a Textile Company that he would name WEMCO, as well as trying his hand in Formula One Race Car Driving. It is his passion for racing that would lead him to a friendship and partnership with Sir Stirling Moss, considered one of the greatest race car drivers in the world. It would also lead him to the sport of bobsleding. He was a driver on the 1952 Garmisch USA Bobsleding Team. Chapter 4 brings us to Paris, France where Walter owns and operates a popular nightclub for several years. This endeavor would allow him to get to know some of the greatest entertainers and celebrities of that era, such as Danny Kaye, Errol Flynn and Bing Crosby, whom he would caddie for on some occasions. In Chapter 5, he would marry briefly and have two daughters. He is also survived by a sister Barbara Moore of Elizaville, NY, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers; Pasquale William and Albert Monaco. The final chapter of this amazing life and novel could be titled Redemption. After a life in the fast lane, Walter would take his passion for life and use that focus on his faith and support of the Catholic Church. Since the late 80's, Walter has been donating his fortune to the Church. He would do this mainly by supporting the Holy Trinity Fund, which was a program that supports young men who would like to join the priesthood. He also began to donate handmade religious statues that he would commission from a prominent Italian Sculptor and send them to churches all over the world. He sent two of these back to CT, including The Infant of Prague Statue for the Shrine at St. Mary's Church and the statue of St. Jude that can be found in St. Vincent dePaul Church, East Haven. He also became a Second Degree Knight of Columbus, Council #11987 out of Ramstein AB in Germany. Funeral will leave the EAST HAVEN MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 425 Main St., Wednesday morning at 10:30 for a Funeral Mass at St. Vincent dePaul Church at 11 o'clock. Burial with Full Military Honors will take place at All Saints Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday prior to the mass from 9 to 10:30. In lieu of flowers, please continue Walter's ministry and support the Holy Trinity Fund, c/o Attorney Michael A. Gennaro, 4635 South Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33904.