Alfonso M. Pavese

Alfonso Mario Pavese, 86, of Cazenovia, NY, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Born in New York City to Angelina Simone and Tommaso Pavese, Al grew up in Brooklyn, where he attended Abraham Lincoln High School. From a young age, he was industrious, working at Robert's China Shop in Brooklyn and NYU from the age of ten, mastering carpentry, and spending his free time playing stickball and cheering on the Brooklyn Dodgers. Al pursued his education with determination, earning a Bachelor of Engineering from City College of New York and a Master of Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, while working at Pratt & Whitney, where he proudly earned a patent for a jet engine design. He later moved to Syracuse to work at Carrier in the Transicold Division. While working full time, he completed an MBA at Syracuse University. He enjoyed a 40-year career with United Technologies as an engineer and Vice President for quality control and strategy, traveling around the world and solving problems with precision and vision. After retiring at 62, Al began a second career training to become a licensed Stock and Insurance Broker at Salomon Smith Barney, spending the next 25 years trading options, playing golf, enjoying his grandchildren, and-true to form-optimizing grocery shopping and food inventory management. Al will be remembered for his boundless problem-solving skills, his appetite for calculated risks, his fidelity to family and friends, and his devotion to the Owera Point neighborhood. Integrity was his guiding principle, and his proudest accomplishment was building a strong, loving family. An avid fan of Syracuse University football and basketball, Al's loyalty and passion carried from the stands into every corner of his life. He married Jacqueline Marie Ladd, "the most beautiful girl in Central New York," on August 3, 1968, and together they built a life rooted in love and family. He is survived by his wife Jackie; his daughters Lori Ann Pavese Mazor and Kelly Elizabeth Hyatt; his son-in-law Jason Chase Hyatt; his beloved grandchildren Elle, Jayce, Caleb, Luke, and Ava; his sister Mary Toglia; his godsons Danny Walsh and Matthew Toglia; and a wide circle of extended family and friends who will miss him deeply. Al often said: "Just show up. Come prepared to play. Play to win." He would want nothing more than for his family and friends to "play through" and enjoy a good meal together.... with a high-quality napkin. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road in Cazenovia followed by a celebration of life ceremony. The family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the Al Pavese Memorial Scholarship at Cazenovia High School. This fund has been established to support Cazenovia graduates pursuing a degree in engineering. Please make checks payable to Cazenovia High School, with "Pavese" in the memo line, and mail to the attention of Amy Haube at 31 Emory Avenue, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Condolences for the Pavese family may be left at www.michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.