Frank A Valenti

He was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and was brought to South Beach as a child. He then lived for many years in Rosebank before settling in Castleton Corners 48 years ago.

A graduate of McKee High School, Mr. Valenti was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. A boatswain's mate first class, he saw action in the South Pacific.

He worked for the former New York Telephone Co. for 35 years, retiring as a foreman in 1985.

"He was people-oriented, fun-loving, and a take-charge kind of guy," said his daughter, Jodi Labukas. "He was a leader — if he saw something wrong, he charged right in."

At McKee, Mr. Valenti was captain of the baseball, football and basketball teams, and president of the dance club, she said. "He also was instrumental in starting the auto-repair program there; he and his friends pushed a dead car there and started working on it."

While in high school, he also built a sailboat with his older brother, Vincent.

"The mast came to Staten Island on a flat-bed railroad car, and my father and his friends picked it up and walked it home to Rosebank as crowds gathered to watch," his daughter said.

Mr. Valenti loved sports, playing in the over-40 softball league into his 50s, and enjoying golf and saltwater fishing into his 80s.

He also enjoyed participating in the organizing of family picnics for the large Moore and Valenti clans.

Mr. Valenti's wife, the former Veronica Moore, died in 1990. He also was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary, earlier this year.

Surviving, in addition to his daughter, Jodi, are his sons, Frank Jr., Robert and Joseph; his brother, Anthony Valente; eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Monday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Mary's R.C. Church, Rosebank. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Grasmere.