Albert Mario Gasparino, 92, of Largo, FL passed away to be with our Lord Friday, April 30, 2010. The memorial service is 7:00 PM, Thursday evening, May 6, 2010 at the Seminole Assembly of God Church, 10600 113th Street, Largo, FL 33778. Pastor Rodney Kennedy will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church from 6:00 PM until the service time. Graveside service and full military honors will be 1:30 PM, Friday Afternoon, May 7, 2010 at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, FL 33744. Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 9272 will officiate.
Albert was born April 20, 1918 in Bronx, NY, the son of the late Joseph and Grace Gasparino. Albert joined the US Army Air Corps and served as a Sergeant of the Headquarters’ Squadron of the 50th Troop Carrier Wing during World War II. He served in England and France and also played the trumpet at the USO. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and a European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.
After being discharged from the US Army Air Corps, he returned to New York to work for Gristedes Groceries where he met his wife of 55 years, the late Nancy Borelli Gasparino. Shortly after their marriage, Gristedes transferred Albert to Ridgefield, CT. During the following 30 years in Ridgefield, Albert and his wife were the owners of the Village Bakery and the Ridgefield Coffee Shop.
After moving to Largo, FL in 1980, Albert worked in real estate for a short time and then accounting until he was 82 years old. He loved traveling and made several trips to Europe. Among them was the reunion trip and revisiting England and France with members of his unit. He loved reading, attending jazz concerts, playing bridge and poker. Albert had a great sense of humor and he was very witty. He attended Seminole Assembly of God Church. Albert was a dedicated husband, a beloved father and an endearing grandfather. He will always be remembered and deeply missed.
Albert is survived by his two daughters and one son; Nancy Weisner and her husband, Wayne of Largo, FL; Grace Costa of Seminole, FL and Daniel Gasparino and his wife, Wiltrud of Heidelberg, Germany; a sister, Marie Tierri of Long Island, NY and four grandchildren: Eva, Valerie, Amanda and Kenneth.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9272, 10997 72nd Avenue North, Seminole, Florida 33772 in the memory of Albert M. Gasparino.
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Albert, I will surely miss you and your stories of yesteryear. What a wonderful, loving life you shared with me. God answered your prayers my friend and brought you home to Nancy. I am blessed to have met you and your family. Rest in Pease Love.
I love you sooo much and you will be missed!! Having done a movie with your pictures has helped with the process because I remember all the good times we had. Have fun with Grandma and Uncle Johnny!! Love and see you in the future, Amanda xoxo
For over 50 years we have been friends of Al and Nancy and we will miss them both as time goes on.
We traveled together, played together, danced together, worked together and they were a special part of our lives and our children lives.
It all began in Ridgefield, Ct. and as fate would have it, we both ended up in Florida. How fortunate we were. Rest in peace Al and be with the Lord forever after.
Some of the best moments of my childhood were spent with Aunt Nancy and Uncle Al. I miss them both, but the memories will be with me as long as I live. Thank you both.
Albert, you will always be a lasting memory for me. You used to keep me very busy on weekends in Ridgefield at the Village Bakery. I’d make the early morning runs to Danbury and Norwalk to pick up hard rolls and pastry. Later on as part of the family, I found you interesting, fascinating, and very intelligent. I will always remember you.
Albert, you sure will be missed. I enjoyed all your interesting stories of the army, and your past that you shared with me. There was definitely no doubt that you lived a long fulfilled happy life. Im so glad I got the opportunity to to get to know you, you are a true blessing and always kept me on my toes as your nurse :). You will be in my heart forever. Love Andrea andor Ursula :) tehehehe!! Love ya!
Albert, you have left us so many memories. At the Village Bakery in Ridgefield when Jim and Nancy sat down to chat you would come out from the back room to remind them not to be eating all the pastries that were supposed to be for the paying customers. Then on to the Coffee Shop on Bailey Ave and those great breakfasts where we would sit in the booth for hours drink coffee and solve the problems of Ridgefield and the world. How we miss those times when you and Nancy would call in the evenings and say, “Put on the pot we’re coming over for coffee and dessert.” You always had such great stories about old Ridgefield and the Townies. When you moved to Florida we had a difficult time with missing you and keeping up with the local news. You introduced us to Seminole, Largo, and Indian Shores where we were able to continue our friendship and enjoy summers with you and tasty pasta dinners on Sundays.
Your Earthly journey is over, our dear friend, but you live on in our hearts and memories. God Speed, Albert, as you continue on your Heavenly journey with Nancy once again.
Love, Jim and Jan Belote
The world has lost a cherished soul.I will always remember Nancy blaming you for the state of her coffee, “Albert, the coffee’s cold!” she’d say, about the cup of coffee in front of her.We will miss your goodness and sweet nature. Rest well.