Sarah Rita (Lombardi) Pietrafesa, Palm Beach Gardens, formerly of Syracuse, NY, left
this world peacefully on January 27, 2023, from her home with her children by her
side. She was 95.
Sarah lived in the Palm Beaches since 1990, as a member of the Ballen Isles Country
Club, Old Port and Palm Beach Yacht Clubs, the Palm Beach Roundtable, and the
International Society of the Palm Beaches. She was a loyal supporter of the Palm Beach
Symphony, Palm Beach Pops, and Society for the Preservation of the Great American
Songbook.
Her journey began in Syracuse on November 12, 1927, the second child of Tarky and
Jenny ( Cerio) Lombardi. A child prodigy, she learned the accordion at age 5, playing on
a local radio show. By age 10 she was playing the piano for Civic Morning Musicals and
the Syracuse Symphony. She was educated at the Goodyear -Burlingame School and
Georgian Court College and graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music. In
Boston she earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study piano in Paris. From Paris she
embarked on a career as a piano virtuoso performing throughout the country, including
as a soloist with the renown Boston Pops.
In 1954 she married Richard C. Pietrafesa, forging a 59-year union of which she was
most proud. As a wife and mother, Sarah was unmatched. She could finesse a menu as
well she could handle Liszt. She gave bright post-Symphony suppers, lavish
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and special Super Bowl parties - her own cooking
being the center of attention. Her motto, “ you can never have too much food, “ was true
even for casual summer dinners at the couple’s home on Belle Isle in New York’s 1000
Islands.
A boater, bowler, golfer and card player during her life, music was her constant joy , a
talent she passed to her children and grandchildren. Later in life she performed with
Syracuse’s Civic Morning Musicals, gave a birthday recital at Mar-a-Lago, and did
impromptu concerts for her Ballen Isles neighbors. She last performed a recital of
Chopin etudes for friends on December 26. Christian Brothers Academy - Syracuse
honors Sarah’s talent with a scholarship in her name given to a rising student musician.
Sarah was a loyal wife, caring daughter and sister, loving mother, thoughtful
grandmother, attentive aunt and good friend. She will be remembered for her quiet
confidence, her energy, her humility and grace, but most of all for the easy way she
made everyone around her feel welcome and loved. A friend remembers, “Sarah was so
easy to love!” She was that and more.
Sarah is survived by her children, Anthony (Amy) of Greensboro, GA., Richard (
Kathleen) Jr of Syracuse, NY, Joseph ( Martha) and Sarah, both of Palm Beach
Gardens, Fla, 12 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, her brothers Tarky Jr (
Marianne) and Francis (Angela), several cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family thanks her caregivers Marta, Jackie, Gina - most especially her beloved
Lyena Giles– for the extraordinary comfort each gave Sarah in her need.
Private services and a mass will be held in Syracuse next week. A celebration of life will
be held in Palm Beach Gardens on February 11.
