Vincent J. Banco

BANCO, Vincent J., who was born March 13, 1918, in Boston, Mass., died June 17, 2008. Vincent was educated in the Boston school system, graduating from Roxbury Memorial High School in 1935 and attending Northeastern University School of Business. He was an outstanding athlete, excelling in basketball and baseball. In high school, he was a teammate and close friend of Eddie Pellagrini, who was a longtime baseball coach at Boston College and a member of the 1946 Boston Red Sox team, which went to the World Series. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, and served as a B-29 Bombardier, attaining the rank of first lieutenant.Upon his discharge in 1945, he returned to his former employment at Remick' s Department Store of Quincy, and was appointed buyer of women' s and children' s shoes. In 1948, he became a pioneer in introducing the concept of shoe stores for children only. He opened Child Teen Shoe Shop Inc. and was president and owner of that corporation for 36 years, until his retirement in 1984. He was, along with his wife, founder of the Coban Leather Co., a plant that manufactured prescription arch pads and shipped to stores throughout the country. Mr. Banco was active in the business community. He was president of the Quincy Merchants Association and an officer in the Quincy Rotary Club, and was a director in the Quincy Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations. After residing in Scituate, Mass., for 34 years, he moved to Spring Hill in 1988 with his wife of 58 years. Survivors include his loving wife, Margaret, of Spring Hill; daughter, Ann Marie Reade of Savannah Ga.; two sons, Anthony Banco of Holbrook, Mass., and Peter Banco of Naples, Fla.; and daughter-in-law, Linda Banco of Holbrook, Mass.; six grand-children, Abby Davisson of Richmond Hill, Ga., Karen Reade of Savannah, Ga.; Christopher Reade of Boston Mass., Jessica of Marshfield, Mass., and Vincent and Joseph Banco, both of Holbrook, Mass. There will be a gathering of friends and family members 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 19, 4450 Commercial Way. There will be a Mass at 10 a.m. Friday, June 20, at St. Joan of Arc, with burial to follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell with military honors. Brewer & Sons Funeral Home (352) 596-4991