Bernard Angelo Bommarito
Bernard Angelo Bommarito was born April 30, 1932 in Rome NY. He passed away at age 89 on July 14, in Syracuse, NY. His parents were Mary Vaccaro Bommarito and Salvatore (Samuel) Bommarito. He is survived by his sister, Jenny Maria Bommarito Spring, nephew Marvin L. Spring Jr. (wife Susan), niece Donna Marie Samaras (husband Tom), niece Kathleen Louise Wimbrough (husband Carl), and several great nieces and nephews. Benny was a scholar. He graduated from Rome Free Academy, in 1950. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1952-1954 with duty in Korea and Japan. Afterward he was employed at the Rome Post Office for a brief time before attending LeMoyne College in Syracuse from 1955-1959 where he received a Bachelor in Science in History.. He was on the Dean’s List, president of Pi Gamma Mu (an honorary social science society), secretary of Alpha Sigma Nu (an honor society for men at Jesuit schools), President of the Sodality of Our Lady, and member of St. John Berchman’s Alter Society. In his Senior year at LeMoyne, he was awarded The Rotary Club’s fellowship award for a year’s study abroad. The award was based on outstanding scholarship, participation in student activities, thorough knowledge of the language of the country in which he would attend, leadership and congeniality of personality. Benny was proficient in Italian and French. The $2,600 award covered his Attendance at the University of Rome in Italy, travel, room and board where he studied Modern European History. Benny also attended Fordham University where he received a PhD. He became a Jesuit Priest and Professor. The last years of his life were spent at Central Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center where he was very social and one of the employees told me he was like “the mayor”. Benny was able to converse easily with others and had a very contagious laugh and smile. He will be greatly missed.
Private funeral services will be held on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Cemetery.
There will be no calling hours.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Bottini Funeral Home, 120 W. Embargo St.
