Obituaries Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, June 5, 2008
Anthony M. Viscio
GUILDERLAND — Anthony M. Viscio, a World War II veteran, was a fighter and a hard-working family man.
“With the grit and hunger of the Great Depression, Tony fought his way both literally and figuratively to be a professional boxer, businessman, and loving father of five children,” said his family in a tribute.
Mr. Viscio died at his home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, June 3, 2008. He was 91.
Born in Schenectady, Mr. Viscio was a member of the Veterans Boxer Association, the Home Builders Association, and the Altamont Veterans of Foreign Wars. He worked as a self-employed mason all of his life.
“He grew up during the Depression,” said his son, Nicholas Viscio, “and mostly talked about how hungry the family was at that time.”
To earn money, Mr. Viscio boxed in local arenas.
“And my dad became the breadwinner to a certain extent. My grandfather had hit-or-miss work,” said his son. “But my dad took up boxing, and it was a quick way to make $5 — to go in the ring.
“He started doing amateur fights and he was pretty good at it so he kept going and going, and he turned professional towards the end of his career,” Nicholas Viscio said.
Mr. Viscio fought professionally in New York City, White Plains, and Chicago.
“He was ‘a scrapper from Schenectady’ is the best way to describe my dad,” said his son.
By the time World War II broke out, Mr. Viscio had already enlisted in the Army and was station at Fort Dix in New Jersey. After Pearl Harbor, he went to Hawaii.
He served as a sergeant in the military police and helped move troops to their points of departure.
After being discharged from the Army, Mr. Viscio vacationed in Florida, where he met Charlotte Guthrie in Cortez.
“They dated for six weeks and got married,” said Nicholas Viscio. “He moved her up North.”
Mrs. Viscio died in 1975.
“He loved swimming, boating, and the outdoors, but mostly raising his family,” said his family.
One of his favorite things, said his son, was to take a small, runabout boat, put it in the Hudson River and go down the river to New York City and back.
“And that was a little incredible,” said Nicholas Viscio. “He was doing that up until his 70s, actually…In fact, during the bicentennial Fourth of July celebration in New York Harbor, when they had huge fireworks displays all around Manhattan, we went down with him — my son, Nick, and I — and we anchored right next to the Statue of Liberty and watched the whole night’s events.”
All the grit that any other Viscio has about getting up and going and doing stuff all came from his father, he said.
In the early 1930s, when he was a teenager, Mr. Viscio worked in a Civilian Conservation Camp in Cornwall, putting in a roadway. The camps were part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal.
“In fact, he lied about his age, took on my uncle’s identity, who was older than him, because you had to be 17 to get in and he was only 16,” said Nicholas Viscio.
“That’s been kind of a mecca for him his whole life — to go back there and walk over the old grounds where he served in that camp.”
Mr. Viscio visited the camp two years ago.
“We walked in there, sat at this one stonewall that’s just about the only thing still existing. I said, ‘You know, Dad, that’s about 75 years ago you were here,’” said his son.
“Tony worked hard well into his 80s and, although he eventually lost his physical abilities, never faltered in his example of hard work and love of accomplishments,” said his family.
His son said, “The song we’re going to play during the service is ‘I Did it My Way.’ He was a guy that kind of did it his way.”
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Anthony M. Viscio is survived by three sons, Nicholas Viscio, and his wife, Marie, of Knox; Rhea Viscio of Guilderland; and Mark Viscio, and his wife, Jan, of Knox; two daughters, Juanita Summers of Bocca Raton, Fla. and Tina Hayden of Guilderland; one brother, Armond Viscio of Schenectady; and one sister, Marion Davignon of Schenectady. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Annie Hayden, Charlotte Hayden, Fiona Hayden, Nicholas Viscio, Charlotte Viscio Clark, Katrine Viscio Dickau, Anthony Brusgul, Rachel Viscio, Samuel Viscio, Mary Viscio, and Morgan Viscio; two great-grandchildren, Leo and Oliver Clark; and several nieces and nephews.
His wife, Charlotte Guthrie Viscio, died before him as did his brother, Louis Viscio, and two sisters, Helen Viscio and Louise Viscio.
A funeral service will be held on Friday at 9:15 a.m. at the Bond Funeral Home on Guilderland Avenue and Broadway in Schenectady, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Lucy’s Church at 113 Grand St. in Altamont. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Calling hours will today (Thursday) from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Internment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Schenectady.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice, 1411 Union St., Schenectady, N.Y. 12308.
— Tyler Schuling
Garry L. Veeder
VOORHEESVILLE — The community has lost an enthusiastic naturalist, and the man responsible for the largest colony of tree swallows in the Adirondack Park.
Garry L. Veeder died on the morning of May 23, 2008; he was 58.
A forensics scientist, he worked for the New York State Police for over 34 years. Mr. Veeder was a member of the Audubon Society, the Blue Bird Society, the Microscopy Society, and the Society for the Preservation of the Adirondacks.
A wildlife and nature enthusiast, Mr. Veeder was also a student of history and an avid hocky fan; he favored to the River Rats.
Mr. Veeder is survived by his wife of 34 years, Donna M. (LaCasse) Veeder; his children, Darcy N. Brunick, and her husband, Staff Sgt. Daniel Brunick of Alabama, Stacy R.Veeder and Brendan Veeder, both of Voorheesville; his granddaughter, Genevive Brunick; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Janice LaCasse of Henderson, N.C.; and his special friends, Linda and Gary Litwin of Ballston Lake, Julian and Michael Della Rocco of Altamont, and Gary McCaffrey of Schenectady.
Mr. Veeder is also survived by his mother, Loisanna Veeder; his brother, Dr. Glenn Veeder, and his sisters, Dr. Carolyn Eberhard, and Dr. Mary Veeder.
Funeral services were held privately at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gary L. Veeder Memorial Fund for his children at any Key Bank. Arrangements were made by Bond Funeral Home in Schenectady.