Mario V. Locatelli, 89, of Gloversville, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, September 15, 2013.
Born on July 18, 1924, in Gloversville, he was the son of the late Carlo Sr. and Adelaide (Stacchetti) Locatelli. He was a lifelong Gloversville resident, and he attended Gloversville schools.
Mario was dedicated to service even as a small boy; he worked to help support his family throughout the Great Depression years and served as an altar boy under Father Ottaviano at the former Mount Carmel Church in Gloversville. Mario then went on to serve his country, joining the U.S. Navy at the start of WWII, serving in the Pacific-Asia Theater. He witnessed firsthand several invasions and experienced two ships he was aboard sunk by enemy fire. He was honorably discharged in October of 1946.
Following the war, he was employed by General Electric Co., Schenectady. He ultimately became a GE electrical engineer in the Facilities Dept. of Knolls Atomic Power Lab in Niskayuna. Mario was inducted into the GE Elfun Society in April of 1991 and retired in 1996. Mario also served as alderman for Ward 1 on Gloversville’s Common Council in the early 1970s. He was also a member of the Concordia Club, Elks, Lions and Moose organizations. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting and camping. Mario had a great passion for repairing and constructing things. He was a man of integrity; like the way he lived his life, all projects were approached with the great care.
He was married to Margaret (Peg) Kardok on October 24, 1959. Besides his beloved wife of 54 years, Peg, Mario is also survived by his sons, Mark (Charlotte) Locatelli of Gloversville and Matthew (Carrie) Locatelli of Saranac Lake; granddaughters, Caroline Locatelli of East Syracuse and Joan Locatelli of Gloversville; one sister, Rose Grandy of Johnstown; and several nieces and nephews; as well as several cousins in northern Italy.
He was predeceased by brothers, Jock, Anthony, Leno, Carlo Jr., and John; and sisters, Caroline “Lena” Davis and Marie Gutowski.
Mario was an honest and trustworthy man, always ready and willing to lend a helping hand. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Friends and relatives are invited to call on the family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at the Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont Street, Gloversville. A prayer service will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 149 South Main Street, Gloversville. Burial with full military honors will take place at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Johnstown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 108 Steele Ave., Gloversville, NY 12078 or to the Church of the Holy Spirit.
Please visit Mario’s online memorial and guestbook at www.brbsfuneral.com.
