12/17/2012
October 23, 2012 from Nora Finn Montanaro:
So it is was on this day last year when my Lovie went to heaven to be with our precious son Albert. How I long to hold them both. Thank you, Lord for giving me such a wonderful husband and son. I am so blessed to know true love because of him. Al made something beautiful out of all our lives.
Today, to honor Al's passing, Dawn Fratangelo will speak in Shawn Murphy's Reporting Masterpieces class ... at 2 in Yokum 226. There will be a reception for Dawn at 3:30 in Nina's Courtyard (so drop by and say hello to Dawn). Lisa Lewis is hosting a dinner for Dawn this evening.
Next year during Homecoming 2013 (Al's old SOB (South of the Border) forensic tournament weekend), we are hoping all his kids return for a special dinner and forensic performances). Get ready for a great time! I hear the great Dr. Seth Hawkins will attend. Special blessings will shine upon the Communication Department and our students as we showcase Al's kids and friends.
I miss you and adore you, Lovie! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxo### ... more to come when I see you in heaven Your Autumn
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Thanks! Please know that we are not having a tournament next year. I am hoping that some of the old forensicators will perform for our students, however. I am not coaching a team this year. Thanks! xoxo
Albert 'Lovie' R. Montanaro Jr.
Press-Republican The Press Republican Thu Oct 27, 2011, 03:19 AM EDT
AUSABLE CHASM — Not satisfied with the sorts of introductions he'd been given over the years, Mark Twain decided, "I'd rather do the job myself!" and, thereafter, that's what he did. In that same spirit, I've decided to take the same alternative as Twain regarding my obituary. I've read enough of them lately to know that very few obit writers do the job very well. So, I am Albert R. Montanaro, Jr., and I died on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, after a long and courageous struggle with life.
In my present condition, of course, I truly hope the Lord has taken sufficient pity on me and will admit me beyond His pearly gates. If He hasn't, I'm sure I've earned my new permanent address; I have not lived an exemplary life (who has). I have tried to be a good person and follow the "rules" as best as I could, but nobody's perfect. I do love the Lord with all my heart, strength and will.
I don't know if I died with friends and family standing around me, but I do know they would want to be at my side, which we were. So, all of them I say, "Yes, of course, I shall bring your love to Albert."
The part of obituaries that I always found rather tedious is those endless lists of what somebody has decided what the deceased had achieved during his/her lifetime (thereby earning an obituary longer than a list of baseball's box scores). So, I'll try to keep this part as short as possible. I was born in Gloversville, N.Y., on July 26, 1935, to a wonderful, loving family. If any of them are still alive, it will, most likely, be my twin sisters, Anita Montanaro and Claudette Brundige, who are probably still living in Gloversville. I was fortunate enough to spare Mom and Dad the anguish of dying before they did (although I scared the heck out of Dad for awhile, but I pulled through). My Mom and Dad were Dorothea (Parks) and Albert R. Montanaro, Sr. I'd like to mention here that I loved and honored my stepmother, Concetta Clement Montanaro, from Rome, Italy. She kept Dad happy and healthy for more than 20 years after Mom died. At this writing, my step-mom is still alive, so she, too, could still be in Gloversville. I leave behind my mother-in-law, Elizabeth Finn of Bayville, N.Y.; a host of brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; (Nora's family is huge and amazingly supportive); and many special nephews and nieces (especially my darling Angelina Bella). My father-in-law and dear friend, Tom Finn, is rejoicing with me now in heaven.
Scamp that I was in my younger years, I married more than once and sired more children than I deserved (seven; Mike, Chas, Kevin, Larisa, Albert III, Tom and Domo), but it is only with the family I leave behind now with whom I ever found such abiding love. So, I thank the love of my life, Nora-Autumn (Finn) Montanaro, for sharing her love with me for nearly 30 years and ask that our remaining sons, Thomas and Domo (Lawrence Dominic) remember forever the kind of thing their parents shared (including the occasional battle) to create a foundation upon which they might build their families, and guys, don't ever forget the impact your oldest brother, Albert R. Montanaro III, had on your lives and always remember him with love. I hope the Lord will see fit to share with me the reason He wouldn't leave "Bert" with us for at least another 11 days, so he could celebrate his 21st birthday. I have not stopped hugging our precious, first-born Albert since I arrived here in heaven. It feels great.
As for the other personal information you're accustomed to reading in an obituary, I served my country as an airman and earned an honorable discharge. I frittered away most of my mustering-out pay in St. Louis, Mo., went to Southern Illinois University, Central Michigan University and the University of Missouri to accumulate some knowledge and the teaching skills to bring with me to Plattsburgh State for a total of nearly 50 years (not counting the year I was foolish enough to spend in retirement before going back to finish what I had started back 1967). I can honestly say, with no false modesty, that my professional goal was to impart at least the axiomatic wisdom of life, that, "You can lead a horse to water; but you can't make it drink," except that I always included the second (and more important) part usually left off: "until you first make it thirsty." I pray with all my heart that the several advisees I coached into the real world found the way to make most, if not all, of their horses thirsty! I can now admit that, aside from my own family and my God, I did truly love you guys and hope, by now, you have found your way to a life you can love. Well, that's about it, folks, I've always felt a life should be measured in terms of how much love we need to lay out in order to receive our bounty of love on a daily basis.
In spite of what many of you believed, I'm not so foolish as to think my life made a huge difference in this world. I do, however, know how hard I worked to make the few "differences" I helped to make. I leave this world truly satisfied and pray the Lord, in His mercy, is satisfied with at least MOST of my life.
Calling hours will be held from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Independent Baptist Church in Keeseville. Burial will follow in the Ausable Chasm Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, kindly donate to the Albert R. Montanaro III memorial scholarship at Banknorth, Keeseville or Albert Montanaro scholarship at Plattsburgh State.
Arrangements are in the care of the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru. To light an online candle and offer condolences in the memory of Albert Montanaro, Jr., please visit www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com
