Benjamin J. Vaccaro Sr.

Benjamin J. Vaccaro Sr., 92, 3410 Foster Corners Road, Durhamville, died at home, on November 18, 2023, at 12:30 PM with his wife, Jean and his family at his side.

Born in Frankfort, on April 13, 1931, the son of Giuseppe and Giuseppina Vaccaro, who were immigrants from San Giuseppe Jato, Sicily, Ben attended Frankfort-Schuyler High School, before transferring to Utica Free Academy to play football. After graduating high school in 1949, Ben enlisted in the US Air Force on April 10, 1951 and spent four years at Sheppard AFB, Texas, in the Intelligence career field. After completing his military commitment, he became a Project Manager at the Ground Electronics Engineering Installation Agency (GEEIA) at Griffiss AFB, Rome. He spent over forty years in service of our country and received numerous awards for helping install radar and other electronic ground equipment around the globe. After retirement, he worked for the Oneida School District, City of Oneida and volunteered his time to deliver Meals on Wheels. He married Mary Jane Kazlauskas, "Jean", on July 7, 1956, at St Francis Church in Durhamville.

Ben was a devoted husband and loving father his remaining 67 years. A devout Catholic, he always attended Holy Mass and frequented the sacraments. He and his wife, Jean, built their home, in 1958, where he lived until his death.

Ben is survived by his wife, Jean; and his eleven children, John, Mary, Joseph, Benjamín Jr., Theresa, James, Paul, David, Gregory, Daniel and Anthony. He is also survived by 35 grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren. Ben is one of three brothers and three sisters. He is predeceased by two brothers, Joseph and Leo and two sisters, Mary and Anna; and has a surviving sister, Claire.

Funeral services will be held at 10:15 a.m. from Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main Street, Oneida and at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 28, from St. Joseph's Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Reverend Christopher Ballard, Pastor. Interment will be made in St. Mary's of the Irish Ridge Cemetery. Friends may call 3-7 p.m., Monday, November 27, at the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., Oneida.

Contributions, in his memory, may be made to Make-A-Wish® Central New York, 5005 Campuswood Drive, East Syracuse, NY 13057 or to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, PO Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.

To leave a message of condolence, please visit www.campbell-dean.com.