Petrucelli, John R.

Description

John R. Petrucelli

John R. Petrucelli was born December 28,1924, in Rye to John and Mary Inglese Petrucelli . He had four brothers and four sisters. In Rye his family lived at 224 Central Ave. John attended Rye schools and was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1943.

He enlisted September 9, 1943 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theatre in the U.S. Army, Signal Corps, service number 42030720.

In the Pacific Theatre of WWII, the U.S. Army Signal Corps overcame immense logistical and environmental challenges to provide critical communications, surveillance, and intelligence. They operated under harsh jungle conditions, deployed pioneering radio technology like the SCR-300 FM backpack radio, utilized homing pigeons, and provided essential, often repaired, submarine cable connectivity for amphibious assaults.

John was honorably discharged February 27, 1946. He returned home to Rye and started work at the A&P Grocery Store in Port Chester, NY.

John married Miss Ruth Ann Rennie January 10, 1954, at the Church of the Resurrection, Rye. The Rev. Cornelius O’Brien officiated at the ceremony and a reception for 72 guests followed at the Green Haven Inn, Mamaroneck. They would have three children and tragically his wife passed away in 1964.

John and his children moved to Greenwich, CT in the early 1970’s. He worked with A&P Food Stores in Greenwich for 40 years and retired as a dairy manager in 1987. He was a lifelong parishioner of Church of the Resurrection in Rye.

John R. Petrucelli, a former Rye resident and World War II veteran, died of a heart attack February 20, 1989 at Greenwich (Conn.) Hospital. He was 64.

At the time of his death, he was survived by two sons, John R. Jr.
of Somers, and David W. of New Rochelle; his daughter, Christine E. of Greenwich; three sisters, Helen Cardone of Greenwich, and Aida Donnelly and Mary Croce, both of Rye; four brothers, Ralph of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thomas J. of Fort Pierce, Fla., Daniel of Harrison and Leonard of Rye; and one granddaughter.