Koco Pecani

Koco Pecani passed away on Monday June 12, 2023 after complications from a short battle with pneumonia in Brooklyn New York. During his life Koco was a role model as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Koco Pecani was born on September 14th 1927 in the village of Proger, Korca, located in south-eastern Albania, where he spent his childhood and early formative years. At age 16, he joined the Albanian Liberation Army and fought in WWII. After the war ended Koco continued to proudly serve his country and embarked onto an exceptional career in the Albanian Military rising to the rank of Colonel in the National Army Forces. After initially serving as an officer in the forward border post of Korca, bordering Greece, he was elevated to continue his service to the country in the Albanian capital of Tirana.

All while raising a family, Koco completed his higher education studies majoring in psychology, and went on to hold several high ranking positions in the United Officer Academy and in the elite military academy of Zall Heri. As a devoted father and husband he led an exemplary life imparting onto his children the love of family and education. In later year he carried such devotion onto his grandchildren and his great grandchildren.

In 2008 Koco together with his wife Ollga relocated to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, New York with his oldest son and his family. While not speaking the language he instantly felt at home in New York with the large diaspora of Albanians-Americans from his child hood city of Korca all the while New York’s prominence was a constant reminder of his prior hometown of Tirana. America has always had a special place in his heart as the land of the free.

Koco is survived by his wife Ollga, his three sons Dhimitraq, Petrika and Arben, their spouses, their five grandchildren and their spouses, and five great-grandchildren.

A visitation for Koco will be held Friday, June 16, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cusimano & Russo Funeral Home, 2005 West 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11223. A visitation will occur Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM, 2005 W 6th St, Brooklyn, New York 11223. 10:00 AM departure from the funeral home to Moravian Cemetery, 2205 Richmond Rd, Staten Island, New York 10306.

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

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Sot dua te Ndaj me ju te afermit e mij, kudo qe jeni, ne Shqiperi, jashte shqiperise , ne Amerike, dhe me ju shoke e miq dashamires, lajmin e hidhur te ndarjes nga jeta te babait tone te shtrenjte Koco Pecani ne 12 qershor 2023. Largimi nga e jeta e babit tone si Pecani i fundit i viteve 1900-1930, mbylli kapitullin e nje brezi qe linden midis atyre viteve. Ata hodhen themelet mbi te cilat qendron Sot gjenerata e re e Pecaneve.

Koco Pecani Lindi me 14 shtator 1927, ne Proger te Korces. Aty kaloi pjesen e femijerise deri ne moshen 16 vjec kur rembeu armet dhe ju bashkua forcave Partizane. Pas luftes Ai ushtroi funksione te ndryshme ne fushen ushtarake. Kariera e tij ushtarake nisi ne vijen kufitare. Ajo ishte eksperienca e tij e pare qe i dha shtyse deshires dhe pasionit si ushtarak kariere. Ai u vendos ne korpusin e Korces dhe me pas ne Tirane. Pas disa kurseve dhe shkollave ushtarake Koco Pecani kreu detyra te larta ushtarake ne Shkollen e Bashkuar te oficerave dhe me vone ne shkollen e Zall herit.

Si baba shembullor tek Ai ne tre djemte pame njeriun qe sakrifica, lodhja, mundimi ishin e vetmja menyre qe femijet e tij te ecnin ne rruge suksesi. Edukimi vjen permes fjales, thoshte gjithmone. Ky ishte lejtmotivi i tij. Te njejtin perkushtim babai jone do te tregonte me femijet tane, kater mbesat dhe nje nip. “Ma lini mua edukimin e femijeve- thoshte- Kam eksperiencen e edukimit tuaj”.

Ne vitin 2008, Ai se bashku me mamane tone Olgen erdhen ne Amerike dhe ju bashkuan djemve te tyre. Nje dite Ai do me thoshte: ”Nuk e mendoja se do merja kaq shume telefonata mirseardhje. E shoh se gjysma e pecaneve jane vendosur ketu ne Americe… Oh Sa shume progare. E kemi dashur vendin e lirise!“ Ne 23 Janar te vitit 2013 Ai u be qytetar Amerikan. E perjetoi ate dite me emocione. Me tregonte fotografite dhe shihja ne syte tij nje ndjenje te cuditeshme. “ Ngrita doren - tha -dhe u betova ” Tashme Ai ishte qytetar amerikan. Me deshiren e tij dhe te mamase ato u vendosur me banim te perhereshem ne Brooklyn, New York, ne familjen e djalit te madh. Nisi keshtu nje jete e re midis djemve, nipit mbesave. Vajzat e nipit dhe djali i mbeses ishin lumturia e tij. Ne Amerike Ai u rrethuar dhe perjetoi dashurine dhe respektin e miqve pa fund.Shqiperia dhe Amerika per ate tashme ishin te pa ndara; vendlindja dhe vendi ku po kalonte vitet e fundit te jetes. Ishte i lumtur.

Lamtumire babai yne I shtrenjte! Ti do jesh dhe do jetosh midis nesh, pse kujtimet qe ti na ke lene nuk