Leo Pagini

Pagini, Leo DELMAR Leo Pagini (Emilio Enrico Luigi), 94 years, died suddenly on August 21, 2007 at the Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center. Born in the town of Barchi in the Province of Pesaro, Italy on December 3, 1912 to the late John (Giovanni) and Angelina (Furiassi) Pagini. He immigrated to Albany, N.Y. in 1920. My Dad graduated from St. Anthony's School in Albany. He worked for Niagara Mohawk Power Company for 48 years and retired in 1977. My Dad married my Mom, Florence (Heinmiller) on August 24, 1945. They were married for 55 years until my Mom passed away in 2002. My Dad loved woodworking and anything to do with his hands. He especially loved growing a variety of vegetables in his garden and sharing them with family and friends. He was an avid Indian Motorcycle Rider and enjoyed riding them as street bikes, on hill climbs and with his beloved friends the late Tom Paradise and Spitzie. My Dad also loved ice fishing and small game hunting with his brother Al, brother-in-law Willard and me. My Dad also loved owning his beloved cats and had many over the years. He was a past manager of Whitehall Little League Baseball and was a member of the Sheehy Palmer Post. My Dad enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served his country in World War II from May 1942 to August 1945. My Dad achieved the rank of technician Sgt. 4th grade and served with the headquarters and service Co. 2833rd Engineer (Combat) Battalion. His military specialty was as a motorcyclist. His main job was to carry dispatches between the front lines and rear command. He served in the military battles of Algeria-French Morocco, Central Europe, Naples-Foggia, Rhineland (Germany), Rome-Arno, Sicily and Southern France. My Dad was awarded the European-African Middle Eastern Service Medal with Bronze Service Arrowhead, Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart. My Dad was predeceased by his beautiful wife Florence A. (Heinmiller) Pagini; his sisters, Sally (Celestine) Ferris, Louise (Luigina) Bradt; his brothers, Frank (Francesco) Rev. Celestine Pagini, OFM, Albert (Orlando) Pagini; and his nephew, Joseph H. Heinmiller. Leo is survived by me, his son Robert J. Pagini and my wife Joy M. He was the proud grandfather of Courtney; the loving uncle of Katherine (Heinmiller) Shooks and her husband Russ and great- uncle of Amanda Shooks, Brian, Adam and Kristen Heinmiller. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. I would like to thank the staff and residents of the Good Samaritan Nursing Home for their care, love and understanding in our time of sorrow. Also a special thank you to the Hospice staff at St. Peter's Hospital for their compassion and love. I would also like to thank all of our friends and family who ever visited my Dad. Your visits meant more to him than I can express in words. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Robert J. Pagini, Joy and Courtney. Family and friends may call at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Ave. Thursday from 4-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in St. James Church. Interment will be in Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery, Glenmont. In lieu of flowers, I am asking you to make a donation to either the American Heart Assoc. or the Mohawk-Hudson River Humane Society or to your favorite charity.