Sebastian Sgroi

Sebastian (Ben) Sgroi, 91, of Ormond Beach died on Dec. 27th, at Bridgeview Nursing Center in Ormond Beach. Though Dementia/Alzheimer’s took his life he enjoyed 89 years of good health and was very active. He has only needed to be under Nursing Care since Oct 11th of this year. He was born and raised as one of 7 children on a large farm in Canastota, NY. He is a graduate of Syracuse University with a BS degree in Engineering. At Syracuse, Mr. Sgroi was on the boxing team where he won the Eastern Intercollegiate Title in the Lightweight Division in 1943. After working one year in wartime industry, Mr. Sgroi joined the US Merchant Marines where he earned his license as a Marine Engineer and was awarded Veteran Status and Military Honorable Discharge in 1987. Mr. Sgroi owned and operated his business called Allied Refrigeration, Heating and Air-conditioning Inc. on W. 18th Street in New York City over 25 years until his retirement in 1984 when he moved to this area of Florida. Mr. Sgroi met and married his wife, Reina Stolz, while vacationing in Costa Rica in 1953. They lived and raised their family in North Arlington, NJ. Mr. Sgroi and his wife, Reina have been married for 58 years. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Reina, and children: daughters, Christine (Dennis) Morgan, Linda (Frank) Catanese, sons, David and Steven. He is predeceased by his son Anthony, Oct. 12, 2011. He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren Renee (Don) Deising, Denny Morgan, Samantha Sgroi, Frankie Catanese and Jennifer Mann and by his great-grandchildren, Jacob, Zachary and Cain Deising. He is predeceased by his sisters, Santina Ramones, Francis Cali, and Nina Farnach from Syracuse NY. He is survived by his brothers Gregory of Cranford, NJ and Sam of Canastota, NY and sister Molly Monaco of Oneida, NY. Mr. Sgroi was very intelligent and was well known for his “thinking outside the box” with having a very creative and inventive mind. He was referred to as “Einstein” by family and friends. He is admired for his dedication to his family through his wisdom, his kindness, thoughtful and generous ways. Besides his family and “tinkering,” his other interests were in golfing, bowling, bike riding, reading, family vacations and travel. Mr. Sgroi is a member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Church, a life member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE) and also a member of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Society. He is also a member of the Syracuse University Orange Pack Athletic Club. Throughout his years he has generously donated to a few select charitable organizations. The family will receive friends, Wednesday, January 4, 2012 10am-11am at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home 548 N. Nova Rd. Ormond Beach. Funeral services will follow at 11am. Interment will be in Volusia Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, or Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.volusiamemorialfunerals .com