Anthony P. Bucolo Sr.

ANTHONY P. BUCOLO SR., 97, passed away on Wednesday, May 2, in Little Rock, Ark of natural causes. Anthony was born on Feb. 14, 1921 in Lockport, N.Y., one of six children born to John and Josephine Bucolo, immigrants from Sicily. Anthony grew up in Lockport, working at General Motors after high school before attending Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York, where he was a music major. His college career was interrupted by World War II, and he proudly served as a United States Marine from 1943 to 1946, which service included the battle on Iwo Jima in February 1945. Before being shipped to the Pacific theater, he played first trumpet in the USO band out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. After his honorable discharge as a Corporal, he returned to Ithaca College, where he met the love of his life, Helen "Mickey" Edwards, a fellow music major. He always gave Mickey credit for helping him get through to graduation after the War. Anthony and Mickey married in 1948, and moved to Theresa, N.Y. where Anthony was the district's sole music teacher. Finally settling on Long Island where they raised their family, Anthony was a music teacher, and then was named the Director of Music for the Deer Park school district from 1966 through 1982, when he retired. In retirement he lived in Vero Beach, Fla., Little Rock and Daphne, Ala. Anthony was widely-respected for his management abilities and his work ethic. He worked hard all of his life from childhood working on muck farms to selling Bibles door-to-door on nights, weekends and school vacations in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also possessed an abundance of common sense and a great sense of humor. Anthony is survived by his sons, Dr. Anthony P. Bucolo Jr., and his wife Ellen of Little Rock, Christopher, and his wife, Luz Mary of Miami, Fla., and daughter, Patricia Curley and her husband Leo of North Andover, Mass., grandchildren Philip, Elizabeth, Samantha, Rachel, Melissa and Caroline, and a great grandson, Luke Wittenberg, and a sister, Frances Fournier, of Shelby Township, Mich. He was predeceased in death by his loving and wonderful wife, Mickey, brothers, Samuel, James, Cono, and Michael, and son, Lawrence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 8 at 1 pm. at Christ the King catholic Church in Little Rock, Ark. Interment at Holy Rood Cemetery, Old Westbury, Long Island, N.Y., will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.