Frank Edward Pugliano

Huntington Woods, MI - Frank Edward Pugliano, 94, of Huntington Woods, MI passed away at home after an extended illness on Sunday, May 29, 2016. At the time of his death, he was being cared for by his five sons and wonderful people from Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care.

Frank was born in New York City on January 16, 1922 to Frank and Mary (Monahan) Pugliano. After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School in Cambria Heights, Queens, he took a job with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of America, where he would work for forty-five years. Soon after joining the Equitable, he met Florence Ann Reid, a beautiful young woman who also worked at the Equitable. They were married on June 19, 1943 while Frank was on leave from the service. Mom and dad were happily married for forty-nine years and eleven months until mom passed away on May 11, 1993.

Frank joined the Army Air Corps shortly before his twenty-first birthday, earned his wings and lieutenant's bars, and trained as a pilot to fly C-47 cargo planes. He was eventually assigned to the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron of the 2nd Combat Cargo Group of the 5th Air Corps, serving in New Guinea, the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan.

In 1946, dad returned to work at the Equitable. Over the years, and through his hard work, he earned a series of promotions, and he and mom moved their family from New York City to Springfield, MA, Albany, NY, Grand Rapids, MI and finally to Detroit, MI (residing in Huntington Woods).

As a young man, both before and after the war, dad was an outstanding basketball and baseball player. He pitched on several teams in a highly-competitive commercial and business league in the New York City area, including on a citywide championship Equitable team one season. He was especially proud of having pitched two no-hitters. Later, he became the best fan of any team any of us played on, and a supporter of any other activity in which we were involved. Unfortunately, dad's athletic skills did not extend to the golf course, where he was the master of the triple bogey. But he loved playing, mostly because of the friends he played with.

After mom passed away in 1993, dad continued attending annual reunions of his Army Air Corps Group. There he met Doris Webb, the widow of another member of the same Group. Dad and Doris maintained a long-distance but loving relationship, traveling together, visiting each other, and calling each other regularly. They remained devoted to each other until his passing.

Dad was proud to be a 4th degree member of the Bishop Gallagher Council of the Knights of Columbus in Royal Oak, MI. He was also very active at St. Mary's parish in Royal Oak, serving for many years as an usher, a member of the parish council, finance board and most any other committee or team where help was needed.

Maybe the most important thing to remember about our dad is that he was a loving, caring person, a man of faith, and a wonderful husband, father and friend. We never heard him say a bad word about anyone, and he always tried his best to help others.

He is survived by five sons: Frank (Mary Ellen) of Loudonville, NY; Stephen (Nikki) of York, PA; John (Terri) of Fountain Hills, AZ; James (Artie) of Kewanee, IL; and Will, who lived with dad, and who was his best friend and primary care giver for the last several years of dad's life when he could no longer travel.

Dad is also survived by his brother Al (Betty) of Ft. Pierce, FL, nine grandchildren, seventeen greatgrandchildren, three nieces and a nephew, several Canastota, NY relatives and Doris Webb and her family. He was predeceased by our mom, Florence, and her cousin and one of dad's lifelong friends, Larry Merritt, numerous relatives, Air Corps brothers, and many close and wonderful friends of his and mom.

We want to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to his many caregivers, particularly Dr. Kathleen Norton, his longtime family physician, and Shereece Lee and Lindy Smith of hospice. We also want to thank in a special way dad's very good friend Dave Peoples, who visited dad numerous times in the hospital, rehab facilities and at home.

We ask that anyone interested in making a donation in dad's memory consider doing so to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Contribution options are available at www.stjude.org.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 6th, 2016 at 10:00 am at St. Pius X Church, 23 Crumitie Road, Loudonville, NY. Burial will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, NY, where dad will be laid to rest beside his beloved Florence.