WOODGATE - Thomas A. Marcelletta, 88, of White Lake, husband of Valerie (Porter), passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Rome Memorial Hospital, Rome, NY.
Tom was born in Rome, on August 6, 1936, a son of Anthony M. and Mary Abbatello Marcelletta and spent his youth on his parent's farm in Lowell, NY. A short time later, his father passed away and Tom and his family moved to Rome, where he grew up and graduated from Rome Free Academy.
While growing up, Tom became interested in heavy equipment and began part time employment, during his high school years, at gas stations and developing his natural mechanical abilities into became a "mechanical wizard" at understanding large heavy equipment operations and repair. Upon his graduation from high school, Tom joined Construction Workers Union Local 545, of Operating Engineers of Utica and Syracuse, where he was employed, for twenty years, on road construction projects in Northern New York, as a master mechanic on heavy motorized equipment. Later, he went to work for the NYS Power Authority, belonging to I.B.E.W., of Massena, and was employed, for many years, as a crane operator in power line construction projects in Northern and Central New York, retiring in 2006.
Tom was united in marriage with the love of his life, Valerie Porter, on November 19, 1996, in New Hartford. Afterwards, the couple settled at their present home in White Lake and in 2025, marked their 43rd year of being together.
Tom was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing golf at many area golf courses. When not at a golf course, he was riding his Harley Motorcycle and greatly enjoyed riding to and attending large motorcycle rallies at Lake George, Daytona Beach, FL and Sturgis, SD. He was also an avid hunter and a member of the White Otter Fish and Game Club.
In addition to his wife, Valerie, Tom is survived by a sister, Delores A. Vitali, NC; niece and nephew, Linda and Tony DeProspero, Rome and their sons, Michael, Rome and Mark, MO; nephew and niece, Albert and Joey Frisillo, OK; mother-in-law, Patricia Porter and stepdaughter, Aimee Ritter, both of Forestport; and many other nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Yolanda (Albert) and Patricia (Anthony); and four brothers, Dominick, James, Anthony and Louis.
Calling hours will be on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 2-6 p.m. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler St., Boonville, followed by a Graveside Service on Wednesday, April 23, at 1 p.m. at St. John's Cemetery, E. Dominick St., Rome.
Memorial contributions may be made to Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corp., PO Box 887, Old Forge, NY 13420 or Woodgate Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 187, Woodgate, NY 13494.
For an online message of sympathy, please go to
www.trainorfuneralhome.com.Published by Daily Sentinel from Apr. 15 to Apr. 26, 2025.