Herbert David Vicinus

Herb was born in Rochester, NY on February 8, 1944, to the late Herbert and Henrietta (Ellison) Vicinus. He grew up on his father’s family homestead where he spent his childhood living next door to his grandparents, surrounded by his brothers, Ken Vicinus and Gary Vicinus, and cousins. He graduated from Greece Olympia High School in 1962, where he lettered in wrestling. Thanks to a great SAT score to balance out self-proclaimed mediocre grades, he started his military and college career in the fall of 1962 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute where he joined the Corps of Cadets. With a desire to be a military officer like his father, Herb graduated Virginia Tech in 1967 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and was commissioned into the US Army as a Second Lieutenant, primarily stationed in Fort Lewis Washington as an infantry officer. He was discharged from active duty as a First Lieutenant and spent four more years in the reserves where he would be promoted to Captain.

After service, Herb spent much of his professional life working as an executive for General Railway Signal Corporation, a company that would take him and his wife, Paula from Rochester, NY to Chicago, Illinois, in fall of 1980 where they would stay for 19 years. Here they would find their forever friends in golfing buddies, termed the ‘dirty dozen,’ and cul de sac crews where neighbors turned into a village. In 1999, after serving as the President of Midwest Electronics and the Vice President at GFI, Herb took early retirement and started a second career in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he worked as a Vice President for a technology startup and finished out his career as Chief Operating Officer, for Summit Consolidated Group. He officially retired in 2006.

Herb is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 44 years, Paula (Greaves) Vicinus. He said, “meeting and falling in love with Paula changed my life forever for the better.” Married months after falling in love, they were destined for each other, true soulmates. Best friends and deeply in love, their unwavering affection and commitment to each other was evident to all who knew them and shined brightly until their last day together.

Second only to his love for Paula, is Herb's love for his three children. Wendy (Vicinus) Williams, his daughter from a previous marriage, was his first princess and center of their world, as the first grandchild. Matthew David Vicinus, his favorite son, his spitting image, his legacy. Meghan (Vicinus) Parker, Megs, his baby girl, a connection that words fail.

Herb hoped for his children they would find the love that he and Paula shared and could not have picked better people for Matt and Meghan than Jennifer Vicinus and Aaron Parker. He loved them as his own.

Herb loved being a grandfather and loved watching his 8 grandchildren grow. He loved them as babies, but his affection truly grew for each of them as he watched their personalities and talents flourish. Lovingly referred to as Papa, Madison (Williams) Goldsberry, Jordan Williams, Jaxson David Vicinus, Hayden Matthew Parker, Dylan Matthew Vicinus, Elliot Herbert Joseph Parker, Ethan Michael Bradley Vicinus, and Charleigh Mae Parker spent summers and holidays in his lap eating Cheetos, jumping in the pool, talking or playing sports, sharing epic game and trivia nights or simply enjoying the safety that comes with such special relationships. Each grandkid loved his fast kisses and his special lullaby song, The Battle of New Orleans.

He had deep love for his brothers, their families, his in-laws, their families, and his many cousins that survived him.

After 10 years in Tulsa, Herb and Paula permanently moved to Horseshoe Bay, Texas where they have been members of the community for 17 years. He loved every moment of living in HSB, including his time on the lake with his boat and his golfing buddies, but mostly sharing this special place and their “forever home” (lovingly remodeled together) with family and friends.

Herb loved to read and had an intellect, sense of humor and wit that were unmatched. He loved to golf. He loved to watch and play baseball and loved that his grandkids found joy in the same. He loved all things sports, especially the Chicago Cubs, Virginia Tech Hokies and Oklahoma State Cowboys. He loved to travel and in 2016, he and Paula joined a travel club they adored. He especially loved traveling to the beaches of Mexico- their happy place. He loved his pets, especially his sheltie dogs, Murphy, Roxie and Riley, and his rescue dog, Fiona.

A celebration of Herb’s life will be held on September 14, 2024 at Quail Point Lodge from 1pm-4pm.

Those wishing to express their sympathy are encouraged to support Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in his honor, https://secure.pancan.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6701&mfc_pref=T&6701.donation=form1.