Jerry M. Clemente Sr.

Clemente, Jerry M. Sr. TROY Jerry M. Clemente Sr., 90, of Troy passed into eternal rest on Saturday morning, May 20, 2017, at his residence. Mr. Clemente was born in Troy and was the son of the late Felix and Carmella Pitanillo Clemente. He was married to the late Catherine Pafundi for 32 years, and is survived by his son, Gerald Clemente Jr . Mr. Clemente attended St. Mary's Grammar School and graduated from Troy High School with honorable mention in art and design. He served in World War II in the U.S. Army in the Philippines and Japan with the 1279th Combat Engineers in Luzon. After the surrender of Japan, he was honorably discharged as a tech sargent. After leaving the service, Mr. Clemente studied radio & television theory from the RCA Institute of New York City. He operated a successful T.V. sales and service repair business for factory warranty repairs for Zenith, RCA, Philco, Sylvania and G.E.. Mr. Clemente worked for Cluett Peabody & Co. for three years as a design and pattern maker for Arrow Shirts and designed custom shirts for General MacArthur. Upon leaving the Watervliet Arsenal, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service as an electronic technician completing a course at the University of Oklahoma in electronic vending equipment and the dollar bill validators. After 33 years of government employment, he retired in 1984. Mr. Clemente pioneered video rentals and equipment at The Home Video Shops. In his later years of retirement, Mr. Clemente became interested in various sciences such as the physics of subatomic particles. He completed four home science courses for non-scientists. He was a member of the Planetary Society based in California and the National Space Society in Washington, D.C. He was a former Troy Elks and a lifetime member of the Italian Community Center. He is an inductee into the Troy Boys Club Hall of Fame and a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua Church. A former usher and member of the Holy Name Society and worked on many fund raisers for the church including hosting the Jimmy Durante fund raising show for St. Anthony's Church in the 1960's. He is also a professed member of the St. Louis Fraternity Secular Franciscan Third Order. Survivors in addition to his son, Gerald Clemente Jr., include two sisters, Catherine Bruno and Mary Farina; and he was predeceased by Louise Farina, Angie Francese, Madeline Gilboy, and two brothers, Nicholas and Michael Clemente. Mr. Clemente was also married to the late Anita Cirrincione and is survived by her daughter Rosemary Girardi. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Mr. Clemente on Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 28 State Street, Troy, with Rev. Francis Walter OFM Pastor, officiating. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made in Mr. Clemente's memory to St. Anthony of Padua Church Food Pantry, 28 state Street, Troy, NY 12180. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery, Troy. Arrangements are under the supervision of The Bocketti Funeral Home, 336 Third Street, Troy, NY.