Patrick "Patt" Vaccaro

Patrick âa�A"Pattâa�A� Vaccaro, 85 Poland - Patrick âa�A"Pattâa�A� Vaccaro, age 85, passed away Saturday surrounded by his loving family and friends. His sense of humor, smile, intelligence, and wit will be sadly missed. Patt was born on January 15, 1920, in New Rochelle, New York, to Italian immigrant parents Frank and Carmela (Santoianni) Vaccaro. They later moved to the Youngstown area. He leaves a sister Mary Rose Strange of Boardman. His deceased sister and brothers include Florence DeMichael, and Tony, Frank, and Nick Vaccaro. After graduating from East High School, Patt joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. He then enlisted in the Army Air Force and became a navigator for B-29 airplanes in the South Pacific during World War II, rising to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He had a highly decorated service career and received many medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Patt then followed his dream to become an artist and educator. He studied at Ohio State University and then received his bachelorâa�a��s degree at Youngstown College. He was nationally and internationally known for his artwork, particularly for being a pioneer in the serigraph or silkscreen technique. He exhibited all over the world, including Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Nova Scotia, and Vietnam, and across the United States in countless one-man shows and exhibits, including the Smithsonian and The Museum of Modern Art, and he received numerous awards and distinctions. In 2002, the Butler Institute of American Art held a retrospective exhibit showcasing Pattâa�a��s career. His artwork belongs to the permanent collection of the Butler Institute, among others. He belonged to the Boston Printmakers and the American Color Print Society and was included in Whoâa�a��s Who in American Art and The International Biography, England. He taught at Princeton Junior High School, Youngstown State University, and Woodrow Wilson High School, where his students called him Dad V. In 1946, Patt married Juanita âa�A"Babeâa�A� Porter. They lived in Youngstown and moved to Poland in 1967. On December 26, 2005, they joyfully celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. He leaves behind daughter Patricia Allan, and grand-children Jacob and Kate, and daughter Jody Vaccaro Lewis, son-in-law Bradley Lewis, and grandson Patrick. A private graveside service was held today at Poland Riverside Cemetery. Arrangements by Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations that will be distributed to Pattâa�a��s favorite charities and organizations. Friends may send messages of condolences to www.beckerobits.com .

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