Obituary published on Legacy.com by Ready Funeral Service, Inc. - South Chapel on Dec. 9, 2024.
Pasco Frank Iafrate of South
Burlington, Vermont passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House on November 17, 2024, at the age of 94. Pat will be remembered as a family-oriented man of many achievements and pastimes.
Born in Johnston, Rhode Island on March 25, 1930, to parents Pasquale and Mary (Testa) Iafrate, Pat was the youngest of four children - the late Fred Iafrate, Angelina Branca, and Phillip Iafrate.
Pat graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in Providence in 1948 where he played football. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the military reserves and continued to play football at the semi-pro level. At the urging of an uncle, Pat attended the Rhode Island School of Design where he majored in mechanical engineering. He interrupted his studies to serve in the Korean War where he led a Howitzer crew as a U.S Marine sergeant. He was wounded, received a Purple Heart, and was honorably discharged in 1952. He resumed his studies and graduated from RISD in 1954.
On April 1, 1952, he met his beloved Gloria at a roller rink. They wed on October 2, 1954, moved to Poughkeepsie, New York for Pat's job at IBM, and started their family. In 1966, IBM transferred them to South Burlington. He earned his master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Vermont in 1976.
Pat was a creator his whole life and was granted a U.S. Patent on one of his many inventions. He built backyard ice rinks in the winter and sculpted whales out of sand in the summer for his daughters. He loved woodworking and built and carved many wooden toys for his grandchildren. Pat's family and friends used to joke with him about the gizmos in his garage too precious to discard. But he also loved the outdoors. He sailed Mallets Bay on his 20-foot sloop, Windsong. An avid golfer in pursuit of a hole-in-one, he finally achieved his dream at the age of 77.
Pat was a man of a few words but when he spoke it was worth listening. He had such a quick wit and a great sense of humor that his one-liners kept the family laughing. He never missed his daughter's events and continued that tradition with his grandchildren. He was always ready to teach someone something new, to fix any problem that arose, or to complete any project.
Pat is survived by his daughter Patricia Newman and her husband Kendall of Carmichael, California; daughter Annette Harton and her husband Kelley of South
Burlington, Vermont; and cherished grandchildren and great-granddaughter: Elise (Newman) Eye, her husband Noah, daughter Erowyn; Scott Newman and his wife Lauren; Megan Harton and Mia Harton.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road,
Burlington, Vermont. A funeral service and military honors will take place at 11 a.m. Interment of ashes will immediately follow in Resurrection Park Columbarium, 200 Hinesburg Road, South
Burlington, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Pat's memory to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation at macular.org.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pasco, please visit our floral store.