Charles Albert Pettinato

Charles Albert Pettinato, 83, of Vestal, NY passed away on October 23, 2022 with his family by his side. He was the husband of Alice Lavin Pettinato, with whom he celebrated 56 years of marriage on July 30th.

Born in Carbondale, PA he was the son of the late Albert and Frances Mancuso Pettinato. Charlie was a devoted husband and father and a fun-loving grandfather. He attended Carbondale schools and enlisted in the United States Army after high school.  After his return from the Army, he graduated with an accounting degree from Lackawanna College. He had a long career working for National Pipe Inc. in Vestal, NY and retired as its President and CEO. After retiring from National Pipe Inc., he started his own consulting firm C & L Associates, (named after his two children), and continued to consult for a few more years until finally retiring fully.  

Charlie was dedicated to his faith.  He was a dedicated communicant of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Vestal, NY and Saint Rose of Lima Church in Carbondale, PA.  He was one of the first parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Church and loved supporting the church and its missions. 

Charlie loved to travel with family and friends.  He took his children to Walt Disney World consistently throughout their childhood and continued the tradition with his grandchildren.  He took his family on legendary trips that they will always remember.

Charlie had a passion for sports and after his own competitive career was finished, he spent many years coaching all levels of youth baseball, basketball, and soccer in Vestal, NY. He had a quiet reserved coaching style and always had success.  He loved watching Charlie and Lisa play sports and would travel throughout the northeast to watch their games.  He loved the New York Yankees and would travel with friends to watch the Yankees play in different stadiums throughout the country.  He loved basketball as well and would religiously make his annual trip to the Big East Tournament.  He was a great storyteller and always amazed us with his stories about his encounters with George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, and Muhammad Ali. 

In his role as Papa Pettinato, he continued to act on his passion by watching his grandchildren in countless softball, baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, and ice hockey games.  He even broadened his horizons to include dance recitals and musical theater.

Charlie took great pride in the home that Alice and he built at Crystal Lake and its legendary front lawn as they welcomed numerous visitors there throughout the summer, including relatives, friends, and many Villanova and University of Scranton alums.  The most important visitors to him were his grandchildren. He laughed, played, encouraged, fed, and enjoyed every minute with them.  Even though he was not much of a water sports fan, he always rode the tube with his grandchildren whenever they asked him to go for a ride.  He was always happy to play catch, basketball, ladder ball, pickle ball, and go golfing with his kids, grandchildren, and his friends.  His children, grandchildren, and many others will always be blessed by fond memories of his positive presence in their lives.  He had an infectious smile and a quiet reserved presence about himself that made him loved by so many people.

After a life lived to its fullest, Charlie is now reunited with his parents and many aunts and uncles.  His wife, children, grandchildren, and other family and friends will always carry his spirit with them. 

Charlie is survived by his wife Alice Pettinato, Vestal, NY and his loving children: son Charlie Pettinato of Allendale, NJ; daughter Lisa Collette and son-in-law Kenny Collette of Glastonbury, CT; treasured grandchildren: Olivia Pettinato, Annie Pettinato, Allyson Collette, Owen Collette, and Ryan Collette; sisters Rosemarie Connor of West Palm Beach, FL, Elaine Collins of Carbondale, PA, Joann Zazzera and brother-in-law Frank Zazzera of Carbondale, PA, and sister-in-law Mary Lavin of Carbondale, PA. 

We would like to thank Dr. Anees Fogley for his long-term care that he provided for Charlie.  We would also like to offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. Ping Gu and the amazing staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for their kindness and wonderful medical care.

The funeral will be Saturday, October 29th with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 am in St. Vincent de Paul Church, 465 Clubhouse Road, Vestal.  Committal services and entombment will take place at 11:30 am at Our Mother of Sorrows Mausoleum, Finch Hill.  Friends may call Friday, from 4 to 7 pm at the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home, Inc., 55 Lincoln Avenue, Carbondale, PA, and on Saturday morning at the church from 8:30 am until mass time.

In lieu of flowers, donate an honorary gift to pancreatic cancer research online at: giving.mskcc.org or send donations in memory of Charles Pettinato to: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Office of Development  P.O. Box 27106 New York, NY 10087.
 

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