Benjamin A. Pardo

Benjamin A. "Ben" Pardo died on December 25, 2025, at the age of 94.

He was born on May 14, 1931, in Glen Cove, New York, the son of Frances Macedonia Pardo and James Pardo, immigrants from Calabria, Italy. He grew up in a close-knit, multicultural and multireligious neighborhood, where friendships formed across backgrounds and traditions. While he maintained a strong connection to his own heritage, those early relationships exposed him to different perspectives that remained part of his life.

From an early age, Ben worked alongside his parents in the family businesses in Glen Cove, including his father's butcher shop and his mother's restaurant, Casa Frances. He played stickball in the streets and earned pocket money. During his later high school years, the family moved to Miami, Florida, where Ben played clarinet in the Miami Senior High School Marching Band.

As a young man, Ben served in the United States Army during the Korean War era. He was stationed in Japan as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Cavalry Regiment and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. During his service, he also served as a ski and rifle instructor.

In 1955, Ben married Jacqueline "Jackie" Zaino, whom he met on a blind date arranged by two childhood friends. Their first date included a movie, followed by a visit to Howard Johnson's, where he ordered a shrimp cocktail while everyone else ordered dessert. They were married for 70 years.

After their marriage, Ben earned his degree at Columbia University in New York City and began his professional career in pharmacy. In 1961, Ben and Jackie purchased their first home in Mineola, New York, where they raised their family and built the rhythms of daily life that sustained them for decades. They lived there until August 2024, when they moved together to The Bristal in North Hills.

Together with Jackie, Ben purchased and built Village Drugs and Barley's Pharmacy, where care for customers was a daily responsibility. Ben was deeply involved in the civic life of Westbury. With Jackie, he helped found the Westbury Chamber of Commerce and played a central role in organizing the Business Improvement District. He also supported Westbury Senior Citizens and Westbury Arts, assisting with programs and fundraising efforts. In these efforts, Jackie served as the visible organizer, while Ben focused on structure, execution, and follow-through. Ben also served as President of the Long Island Pharmaceutical Society and as an officer of the New York State Pharmaceutical Society.

As a father, Ben worked consistently to provide for his family. He taught his children how to play golf, drive a stick shift, and cook, and when schoolwork required extra help, he assisted them with homework, particularly in math and science.

Italy remained an important place for Ben over many years. He and Jackie traveled widely throughout Europe, returning often to Italy, with visits that included Lombardy, Umbria, Veneto, Sicily, Piedmont, and Tuscany. Travel elsewhere also mattered to him, including trips to France and Mexico. Cooking was a regular part of daily life in Ben's household, and family and friends gathered around the table over many years. In later years, he spent time cooking with his granddaughter, Sofia.

Ben enjoyed cars. Over the years he owned a Karmann Ghia, a Porsche, a BMW Z3, and several Mercedes, always choosing basic models without power seats or windows, never selecting a color, and never negotiating the price.

Ben was private and observant, with a dry sense of humor. He was dependable and measured in his approach to daily life and did not seek attention or recognition.

Ben was predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Jacqueline "Jackie" Z. Pardo, and by his brothers Carmen, Vincent, and Daniel, and his sister Marie.

He is survived by his children, Francesca H. Pardo and her partner Robert Lane, Benjamin Pardo and his partner David Gresham, and Nichole A. Pardo and her husband Greg Bernstein; his granddaughter, Sofia Bernstein; and extended family.

The family would be honored if, in lieu of flowers, donations are made to Lasagna Love. This remarkable organization is powered by volunteers who prepare and deliver homemade lasagnas to individuals and families in need, offering nourishment, comfort, and kindness during difficult times. To learn more or to donate, please visit https://lasagnalove.org/donate/