Andrew Ralph D'Angelo

Andy embraced life fully. He worked, played, and loved with his whole heart. He wore many hats in life from devoted son and brother to husband, father and grandfather, scholar, GI in Korea, pioneer in radar, public servant, athlete, sailor, and intrepid traveler. Andy lived life with vigor and excitement, approaching each day as an opportunity to grow and learn something new, and to make things better for the people around him.

Andy was born on October 5th, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrant parents from the Village of Boscoreale. He spent his childhood with his three siblings in Brooklyn in a one-room tenement above his father’s butcher shop. At 17, He enlisted in the Air Force for the Korean War. After the war, he continued his life of public service with the Federal Aviation Agency and then with the Department of Defense as the Executive Officer for Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Systems. Throughout his life, Andy valued education was an honor student at Brooklyn Technical High School, and earned both a B.S. and M.B.A. while working and raising his family.

Andy was fortunate to have a lifetime of love and companionship with Sandra “Sandy” Cohen. They met in 1956, and he always described their meeting as “love at first sight.” They were married in Brooklyn in 1959. The next 44 years brought family, children, and grandchildren, who were the true light of his life. Together Sandy and Andy had three Children Drew, Dean, and Devi, whom they raised in West Long Branch, New Jersey, but traveled with every summer to destinations all over the country.

In retirement, Andy picked up the pace of life. He was an athlete, running in many road races from 5k to marathons. He took sailing vacations to exotic locales, drove himself solo across the country, and traveled extensively. Into his later years, Andy took time to travel with his adult children and grandchildren to France and Italy, enjoying the culture and companionship. He never tired of travel and seeing the world, especially with his grandchildren. He maintained loving relationships with too many old and new friends to mention. He was a regular at the gym and his favorite dining spots, had his favorite haunts to go hang out and talk about his vintage Alfa Romeo, and always had something interesting planned for the future. He never missed the opportunity to travel to spend time with his grandchildren after they went to college and shared frequent calls, texts, and the daily wordle with them.

Andy has now gone to join Sandy in the next life, where she has been waiting since 2003. He lives on in the hearts and minds of his friends and family, including his Children, their Partners, and his 7 grandchildren: Andie, Madeline, Andrew, Danielle, Evan, Peter, and Charlotte.

Please join A Celebration of Life is being held Saturday, February 3rd, 2023 from 3pm to 5pm at The Flying Fox located on Broad Street in New Bern. In lieu of flowers, Donations can be made to the CarolinaEast Foundation.

You may address condolences and to the family by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com

Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the D’Angelo family.