Sabatino Pallotta

His passing marks the completion of a long, full life well lived. Sabatino was born on August 25, 1923 in Agnone, Italy, the son of Pietro and Fidela Pallotto. He grew up on a family farm in Agnone, Italy along with his younger sisters Julia and Custoda and brother Giovanni. He was surrounded by supportive extended family and friends who helped him to become a strong, generous and kind man. His strong faith in God was formed as a child as he learned from his parents, grandparents and extended family. He was especially close to his grandfather Angelo. He observed how his family always put their trust in God first. As a child he learned and developed many life skills that became very useful throughout his life.

Sabatino completed his studies in a little one room school house in Agnone, Italy. At 19 he was drafted into the regular Italian Army. He served in the Infantry during the war and in October 1943 the Italian government declared war on Germany. He was captured, transported via boxcar to Germany and spent 18 grueling months of starvation and forced labor (all of 1944 into 1945) in a Prisoner of War camp. Germany did not follow Geneva Convention rules regarding Italian prisoners, who they considered to be traitors. Many Italian soldiers died in captivity. He often said “I don’t know why I’m alive” when so many died. His strong faith and instincts to survive helped him to live through this horrific experience.

From this experience, the advice he gave to family and friends was “Never Give Up” and “Tomorrow will be a better day”. He was liberated by the Allied forces in the Spring of 1945 and stayed with the United States Army for a few months to regain his weight and strength. He then made the long journey back to war torn Milan, Italy and eventually to his family farm in Agnone. He continued working on the farm and also worked for the city as a lumberjack in the forests surrounding the farm.

In 1951 he immigrated to the United States. Sabatino loved the United States of America for saving his life and giving him and his family so many opportunities. He was very proud to become a naturalized United States citizen in 1956. He married his beloved Julia on July 19, 1951. Sabatino was devoted to Julia during their 37 years of marriage, until her death in 1988. Julia was a beautiful, caring and compassionate woman who devoted herself to supporting Sabatino. Through faith, hard work and dedication, Sabatino and Julia built a life in Youngstown, Ohio surrounded by family and friends. They later had two daughters Mary and Antoinette.

Sabatino sacrificed material things and “good times” to provide for his family. He didn’t have the opportunity to further his own education, but he believed in higher education and supported the educational endeavors of his children. Sabatino worked for 33 years at GF Business Equipment (originally General Fireproofing) retiring in 1984. The company had contracts with companies such as Xerox Corporation. GF manufactured metal office furniture—check that old metal office desk or chair; it could have been made at GF. He worked 15 years in the chair division and did different jobs including welding. He also did cement work for family members at Thomas Pallotta Construction Company and worked part time doing landscaping. He also visited family in Argentina and Italy.

Sabatino was a perfectionist in whatever he did, whether it was cooking (great cook!), landscaping, painting, doing odd jobs around the house or line dancing. After work every day, he always tended to a large vegetable garden and shared the fruits of his labor with family and friends. There were some years he made homemade wine (usually Zinfandel).

After the death of his beloved wife Julia, he left Youngstown and relocated to Columbus, Ohio to be close to his daughters. He spent his retirement traveling out west and to Alaska. He was very active in the Senior Centers in Columbus. Sabatino joined Grandview Senior Center and the Jolly Steppers line dancers. He performed with them at various events for over 20 years, including AmeriFlora, The Italian Festival, The Oxroast, and performed at Columbus City Center and visited other Senior Centers and Nursing Homes around Columbus. He met Dee Williams, who became his dancing partner and special friend at Grandview Senior Center.

In 2001, he purchased a condo in Sun City, Arizona and became a snow bird. He tended to and took great pride in his citrus and fig trees that provided fruit which he shared with family and friends. He was also very active in Sun City Recreation Centers.

He is survived by his daughters Mary Pallotta and Antoinette Pallotta, nieces, nephews and other extended family members in the United States, Europe, and Argentina.

Family will receive guests at Schoedinger Funeral Home, NW Columbus, 1740 Zollinger Rd on Labor Day September 5 between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. There will be a Catholic funeral Mass at Our Lady of Victory Church, 1559 Roxbury Rd, Columbus on Tuesday September 6 at 10:00 am. A private interment will be at Calvery Cemetary in Youngstown at a later date.

Family requests that flowers be sent to the funeral home prior to visitation hours. Condolences and remembrances can be put on Schoedinger website.

This is not goodbye Dad, but so long for now, until we meet again.