It is with great sadness that we announce that Alfred Avitabile of Yorktown Heights, New York passed away in his sleep on 13 November, 2024. He was 82 years old. Al was a larger than life staple in the Yorktown community with leadership positions in the Yorktown Lions and a pioneer in creating the LEOs program which he led for 25 years. Al lived a life filled with tremendous passion and service towards others. Al was also a successful entrepreneur running his own business for over 40 years as well as a cancer survivor. Al was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1942. He was the oldest of five children (Patty, John, Linda and Ann Marie). Al was also a proud veteran of the US Navy where he served both domestically and overseas working on top secret projects. Al has been married to the love of his life, his wife Diana for 51 years and they have resided in Yorktown since they were married. He leaves behind three children: Amy, Jennifer (and husband Sly Musilli) and Jeffrey (and wife Janine Samperi); and four grandchildren that were his best friends and his pride and joy: Tommy, Alex, Gennaro and Massimo. Being a Pop Pop was his proudest accomplishment. He also leaves behind an extensive family of siblings and cousins that were an integral part of his life. His family always came first! Al passed along lots of life lessons learned in his 82 years, including how to erect a Korean War Era tent all over the East Coast, offensive driving to get to rest stops in an emergency, how to make up ridiculous songs that you can never get out of your head, how to dress for function not fashion and how to make things happen. He was a fashion icon with his zip off pants that he never actually zipped off (but he was prepared like a good Boy Scout). Al left a positive impression with everyone he met whether for a brief moment or through years of friendship. He truly loved life and had a passion for helping others through his extensive charity and volunteer work with Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the Lions, the Leos and other organizations in and around Yorktown. Anyone that ever froze their butts off on a Midnight Run will remember how happy helping people made him. He never came home from one of those cold outings with is gloves – he always ended up giving them away. He also never left those cold nights without a view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree – a way to thank volunteers for coming along and helping. Everyone knew his voice, could hear him coming to give you a hard time or a friendly teasing joke and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Al was honored across the county and the state with his own "Al Avitabile Day" for 25 years of outstanding service to our community. Al loved watching old movies, doing puzzles, talking politics, sharing stories of his family and most of all loved camping and playing with his four grandsons. He will be missed dearly and remains in our hearts and our stories. Al passionately believed everyone should learn something new everyday and share that with others so we can all continue to learn and grow and be better. Please go and learn something today and share it with someone you love. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Alfred’s name, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105 or at https://www.stjude.org Al's life will be celebrated with a wake on Wednesday, November 20 at The Clark & Giordano Funeral Home in Yorktown from 4-7pm and a funeral mass at St. Patrick's New Church in Yorktown on November 21 at 11:15AM.
