Lou A Turco

Lou A. Turco, 79

'Family was his everything'

Lou A. Turco, 79, of Staten Island, N.Y., passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family, on Sunday, April 15, 2018.

Born in Melrose Park, Ill., to Frank and Ann Turco, Lou was raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, N.Y., with his sister, Rosemarie.

He was a kid on the block- stickball, baseball, basketball, and later in life, a golf ball. If there was a ball involved, Lou could hit it out of the park. He played baseball with friends at the sandlots in Fort Hamilton, basketball in the local parishes, and then for Xavier High School and Boston College.

Lou graduated from St. John's University with an accounting degree and gently coerced by his father, he joined the family business, Frank Turco & Son, Leather & Shoe findings.

Lou married the love of his life, Tina. Their courtship began at Hinches Ice Cream parlor with encouragement from her mom. She could not resist his wink and a smile, and so began a love story of 57 years.

They moved to Benson-hurst where they had their four children and they eventually settled in Staten Island. They spent their summers at Culver Lake, where many a happy day was spent with family and friends either sitting on the dock, swinging a golf club with his buddies, or sipping a well deserved Dewars and soda after a morning of work at The Big House (this time Doc encouraged).

Sports was always in his life, Giants, Knicks, and Rangers, and cheering on the Yankees 'tillthe very end.

Lou is survived by his wife, Tina (nee Valentino) Turco; daughters, Lisa Gibble and husband Matthew of Ridgewood, N.Y.; Melissa Georgiou and husband George of Cranford, N.J., and Alison Jones and husband John of Westfield, N.J. He was predeceased by his son, Louis.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Samantha, Tina, Abby, Elaina, Christopher, Loukas, Rachel, and Stefanos, as well as by many loving nieces and nephews from California, Chicago, and Florida.

He was a father figure to everyone, "Big Lou" to most, Uncle Lou to his many nieces and nephews, and the best Pop Pop to his eight grandchildren. His family was his everything. He was a kind, gentle, selfless soul, a gentleman, and a true class act.

As Lou's high school coach put it, "Turco is an unobtrusive type who is terribly effective without being obvious about it. Lou murders you on the court but does it quietly." Humble to the very end.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 19 from 4 to 9 p.m at the Casey Mccallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave., S.I. A Funeral Mass will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, April 20 at The Church of Saint Clare, 110 Nelson Ave., S.I.. Burial will follow at Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th S. Brooklyn, N.Y.

Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, Tenn. 38105 in the fight against childhood cancer.

Casey-McCallum Rice

South Shore F/H

30 Nelson Ave.

Staten Island, N.Y. 10308

(718) 317-7600

Published in Staten Island Advance on Apr. 18, 2018