Batavia - Mr. Frank Sam Pellegrino, age 97, of Batavia, passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at the Batavia VA Medical Center.
Mr. Pellegrino was born March 17, 1917 in the province of Reggio Calabria, Italy, a son of the late Frank and Carmela Gotto Pellegrino.
Mr. Pellegrino immigrated to Batavia in 1934. From 1934 until 1942, he worked with his father and brothers with the Frank Pellegrino and Sons muck farms. He entered the United States Army in 1942 and served with the 36th Infantry Division in North Africa and Italy. He was captured in Salerno and was held as a prisoner of war in Germany for 21 months. He was the longest held Prisoner of War in Genesee County.
He then returned home from the war and worked on the muck farming operation until 1955. From 1955 until 1975, he and his brothers operated the former Pellegrino's Bakery located on Liberty Street. After leaving the bakery in 1975, he returned to the muck to farm with his brothers. He was a member of the Veness Strollo Post of the VFW.
He is predeceased by his wife, Helen Tessitore Pellegrino on July 24, 1993 and his children, Carmela Temple in 1998 and Frank Pellegrino in 2011. He is also predeceased by his brothers, Rocco, Graziano, Guiseppe and Carmen Pellegrino and his sister, Nancy Barresse.
He is survived by his grandchildren, Matthew W. (Sara) Temple and Kristen A. Temple, both of Batavia and Michael F. Pellegrino of Albion; his great-granddaughter, Samantha Balbi of Batavia; his daughter-in-law, Ann Marie Pellegrino of Albion; his sister, Lena Pellegrino of Batavia; two sisters-in-law, Frances Pellegrino of Virginia and Lena Pellegrino of Brockport; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 18 Ellicott Street, Batavia. Entombment, with full military honors will be held at St. Joseph's Mausoleum. Please consider memorials to the Batavia VA Medical Center, Attn: Activities Fund, 222 Richmond Avenue, Batavia, New York 14020.