Vincent James Putrino

Vincent (Vincenzo, Uncle Jimmy, Vince, Vini, Pa) was born February 15, 1929, in Endicott,

New York and passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, in Paso Robles, California.

Vincenzo’s mother says he was actually born on February 5 (who better to know than his

mother) . . . in 1929 hospital personnel did not get around to recording the birth date until 8, 9,

and sometimes 10 days later using the day of recording as the birth date.

Vincenzo was one of thirteen children (#7), two remaining, whose parents, Antonino and

Josephine (Manago) Putrino, were from Reggio, Calabria, Italy.

As a boy Jimmy, along with his other brothers, worked daily in the family’s garden (the size of

two-house lots) while his mother and sister’s attended to daily home chores and meals.

Additionally, while growing up Jimmy shined shoes in a local barber shop while always

watching the barbers cut hair between shine gigs (more later).

During his high school years Jimmy learned to play clarinet, saxophone, and bass-fiddle (standup

bass).

He extended his musicianship forming dance bandS for school functions.

He was also a Union Endicott High School cheerleader when not entertaining a host of other

school and non-school activities.

In the midst of these ventures, Jimmy took a “natural” interest in jitterbug dancing (no lessons)

and became an award-winning champion (THEY called him rubber-legs); most women would

not dance with Jimmy because they could not keep-up with him with the exception of my mother

MaryLou Putrino, died 11/18/2014.

After graduating high school (1948), Jimmy worked many odd jobs (postal carrier, rain gutter

installer, Woolworth stock-boy, selling Christmas trees, and of course musician) and then

decided to enlist into the service instead of being drafted; . . . his father was very unhappy with

him voluntarily enlisting until he learned Jimmy’s purpose that being providing him the

opportunity to choose which branch of service as well as where to serve instead of being

assigned.

Vince chose to be in the Air-Force serving as a musician in the prestigious Air-Force band, again

expanding his musicianship, serving Newfoundland, Labrador, and Greenland.

During his service, the dance band lost their drummer, having no replacement, and on a weekend

whim Vince learned to play dance drums for the Officers dance band entertainment (he would

attempt anything with the attitude “how-hard-could-it-be” and “what-do-I-have-to-lose”).

Speaking of which, one sunny day in Greenland the Air-Force base was suddenly without and

seeking a barber, hmmm . . . you guessed it, Vini stepped up to the plate and said I’ll cut hair,

based on his observation knowledge when he used to shine shoes as a boy in the barber shop, and

was deemed the base barber (he sent all proceeds home to his parents).

After 3.5 years of service, Pa was discharged and home bound (1952) with the world in front of

him, whereby he looked up his accordion playing high school buddy Walt Leahy, and teamed up

playing stand-up bass as a jazz music comedy duo in night-clubs up and down the east coast for a

couple of years.

During their last gig and while on break between performances with house recorded music

playing, Vince asked a woman patron (my mother) to dance and as they say “the rest is history”;

she was able to keep up with this jitterbug extraordinaire.

A very short time thereafter they were married (1953).

Two years later their son was born and 2 years thereafter a daughter.

April 1960 Vince said no more upstate New York winters, packed up a 1959 Plymouth with bass

fiddle atop, and drove to Burbank, California where he/we lived for 40+ years.

At such time Vini purchased a home for $11,500 (owner carried back $11,000).

He received his HVAC certification shortly thereafter and worked as such for 20 years.

In the late 1970’s Pa’s interest was significantly redirected towards real estate in which he

became a real estate broker and began his real estate investment portfolio.

Additionally, Pa was significantly excited to share his knowledge with family and friends

supporting their real estate investment portfolios as well.

Secondarily, Pa additionally established a property management business coupled with real

estate investing to of course manage the security of his and his client’s investments.

In 2004, Vince and MaryLou moved to Paso Robles to share life with their children and

especially their grandchildren.

If you were a part of Vini’s life for the last 70 years, you were subject to many Vini stories,

sometimes with filters but mostly no-filter; especially as his age progressed . . . this was a

slippery slope.

Despite having heard these stories over and over and again and again . . . we of course wish we

could hear them one more time.

Vince is survived by his brother Gino Putrino and sister Lucy (Putrino) Cristalli;

son Dino Putrino and his wife Cindy, as well as grandchildren CallaBria and Dante; daughter

Dana Putrino and wife Belinda.

Pa, we more than Love’ya . . .