PAUL PUGLIESE

Paul Pugliese, 82, a lifelong resident of Port Chester and a well-known musician and music store owner died January 31, 2005. He was born December 25, 1922 in Port Chester to the late Santo and Antoinette Messina Pugliese. He graduated from Port Chester High School. He served in the United States Army during World War II, playing the trumpet in the Infantry band in Europe and the Pacific. Paul played the trumpet from the age of 7, and by high school was playing full-time. After high school, he played with the Big Bands all throughout the country.

After Paul served in the Army, he enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music on the GI Bill, leaving college to go back on the road to play his trumpet. It was on the road he met his future wife, Pat Killeen, who was a singer. They married August 1, 1954 at the Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester, and settled in Port Chester while Paul continued to play trumpet. They opened the Mamaroneck Music Center in Mamaroneck, which they still own and operate today at its current location in Larchmont.

In May of 2001, Paul finished earning his degree in Music that he started fifty years ago and on May 13, 2001. He received a BA in Music from Manhattan School of Music and was recognized at graduation for being the oldest graduate. He was a parishioner of the Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester and a member of the Musician Union Local #38 and #802 in New York City.

Survived by his wife, Pat Pugliese, of Port Chester; two god children: Carol Lalli and Joseph O'Shea and many nieces and nephews; predeceased by eight brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 pm on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at Craft Memorial Home, Inc. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Westchester Ave., Port Chester, NY. Interment will follow at Saint Mary's Cemetery, Rye Brook, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Pugliese may be made to the Johnny Mercer Foundation, (an organization that introduces music of the Big Band era to school children), C/O Prager and Fenton, 675 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017. CRAFT MEMORIAL HOME 40 Leicester St., Port Chester (914)939-0131

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