Albert Joseph Raco

Albert Raco left this life on February 23, 2022, and he is certainly now walking up and down the aisles of the grocery store in heaven, Bills jacket on and shopping list in hand, looking for the best deals. Al loved to go grocery shopping and he loved the Buffalo Bills. He’s probably also wearing his trademark mischievous smile in the ever after because he is now reunited with his sweet wife of 50 years, Nancylynn Elizabeth Raco.

Albert Raco grew up in Hudson, New York where he graduated from St Mary’s High School and then went on to serve in the military as a mapmaker in Okinawa, Japan. Al not only loved watching sports, he loved playing them - basketball growing up, track in college at Niagara University and later racquetball and golf. His golf swing was something to behold, but it got the job done. He loved the game with all its challenges and frustrations, but more than that he loved spending the day on a beautiful course with his golfing buddies.

Al started his career in insurance and then went on to work for the S.M. Flickinger Co. as a buyer and later as the Merchandising Manager. He had a love hate relationship with many of the food company representatives that called on him and Super Duper store owners, but he loved his job and treated everyone fairly. He was, in everyone's opinion, a tough negotiator but a 'really good guy.'

Albert and Nancylynn raised two beautiful daughters on Treehaven Road in West Seneca, Suzanne Elizabeth and Allison Anne. They attended St John Vianney Church and later St Catherine of Sienna Church every Sunday followed by a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts (but only if the girls behaved which they usually did). Al, whose favorite restaurants included Schwabl’s and Chef’s, enjoyed going out to dinner with Nancy and the girls. The family also loved escaping the winters of Buffalo together, accompanying Al on company-sponsored, Al-arranged trips to places like Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Dominican Republic.

In the later years of their life, Nancy and Al relocated to Florida where they were able to spend more time with their daughter Allison and their adorable grandsons Avery and Bennett Mateo. This relocation, first to New Port Richey and, ultimately, Port St. Lucie, also gave Al time to refine his golf game and sharpen his pool shark tendencies, both of which he did with gusto and with new buddies by his side. In addition to his two daughters and two handsome grandsons, Albert Raco is survived by grandchildren Emily, John and Betsy Watters, his brother Joseph Raco, who always remembers everyone’s birthday and his sister Victoria Perotti, the Town Supervisor in Amenia, NY, and their children.

We hope that you are enjoying the golf courses, grocery aisles, pool tables and restaurants of heaven, dad/Al/Papa. Please say hi to mom/Nancy/Nana. And please, please, please, see if you can do something about getting those Buffalo Bills a Super Bowl victory next year.

We love you.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.aycocktradition.com for the Raco family.