STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Native Staten Islander Liseo Geno Sozio, 79, of Gilboa, N.Y., a retired Sanitation operating engineer whose family was most important to him, died Thursday in the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, N.Y.
Born in Rosebank, he grew up in West Brighton. He moved to Dongan Hills in 1958 and to Prince's Bay in 1970. He relocated to Gilboa in 2003.
Mr. Sozio served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed stateside.
He worked as an operating engineer for the city Sanitation Department for over 30 years, and was a member of Local 15, International Union of Operating Engineers. He retired in 2003 from the former Fresh Kills landfill.
With his wife, the former Jennie Lepro, he owned and operated Hansen's Deli in West Brighton from 1971 to 1976.
Mr. Sozio enjoyed cowboy action shooting, which combines wearing fancy cowboy gear and target shooting, hunting and fishing. He loved talking to people and everyone loved him, family said. He was also known as Santa Claus and dressed the part for Christmas.
Family was most important to him and they knew they could always count on a bear hug.
"He was a good man," said his son, Michael. "He was a gentleman."
While living on the Island, Mr. Sozio attended Olivet Presbyterian Church, West Brighton.
Jennie, his wife of 48 years, died in 2004.
Surviving Mr. Sozio, along with his son, Michael, are his daughters, Elizabeth Kelly, Lisa Parisi and Nancy Sozio; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and his fiancee, Carla Garvey.
The funeral service will be Monday at 10 a.m. in the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills. Entombment will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.
Arrangements under the direction of Virginia Funeral Chapel, Staten Island, NY.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5