Anthony Vellano   |   Visit Guest Book

Anthony Vellano Costa RicaAnthony Vellano, 90, a prominent and successful area businessman and community leader, passed away recently in Costa Rica after a brief illness. Mr. Vellano, along withhis brothers, John and Pat and with the help of their father, Paul Vellano, founded Vellano Brothers, a still-operating waterworks supply industry leader based in Latham, NY. He retired from Vellano Bros. in 1991 and moved to Florida where he started a jewelry business that had five operating outlets around that state. In 2000, he opened a real estate company specializing in Florida and Costa Rica locations, and moved to Costa Rica to oversee development there, remaining active in that business into his late 80's. Mr. Vellano, born on July 30, 1921, attended Schenectady's St. Joseph's Academy, joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December, 1941 shortly after the attack at Pearl Harbor. He served in Naval Aviation at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and at Munda Airfield in the Solomon and Russell islands as well as during the campaign against the Japanese base at Rabaul in Papua, New Guinea. Mr. Vellano was also very active in local athletics, both as a participant and a leader. He was a member of the Jersey Aces all-star baseball team of Schenectady in his youth, was president of the Bellevue Pop Warner Football Club, he also coached teams in the Bellevue Little League, and helped organize the Schenectady Looman Packers Football team. He was also a member of Operating Engineers Local 106, a life member of Hildebrand-Davis VFW Post 1895 and was founder and president of the Clutchdog Society, a local charitable organization, and was an active member of the National Utility Contractors Association. He is survived by his wife; brother, Curtis (Nancy); sons, Joseph (Penny), Anthony (Holly), Paul (Joney); nephews, John (Lori), Vince (Sydney); a niece, Kristin (Tony); grandchildren, Adam, Emily, Mike, Ashley, Angela, Ann Marie, Paul, Joseph; and nine great-grandchildren. Donations can be made to St. Joseph's Church, 600 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305. A private memorial service is planned.

Published in The Daily Gazette Co. from May 3 to May 4, 2012