Aniello Neil Franzese

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Aniello (Neil) Franzese, 85, of West Brighton, a retired computer systems analyst and a loving father, grandfather and friend, died Monday in Sunrise of Staten Island Assisted Living, Concord, where he had resided for six months.

Born and raised in Manhattan, he graduated from Chelsea Vocational High School there.

Mr. Franzese served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era, stationed stateside.

After he and Yolanda Improta were married, the couple moved to Port Richmond. He settled in West Brighton in 2003.

Mr. Franzese had a 32-year career as a computer systems analyst for the U.S. Postal Service, working at the management information branch in Manhattan. He retired in 1985.

He enjoyed walking in Clove Lakes Park. He also liked to solve puzzles, and his favorite television shows were "Jeopardy!" "Wheel of Fortune," "American Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars."

"He was my best buddy and always treated me as if I were his own son," said his son-in-law, Robert Brogna. "We will all miss him dearly."

Mr. Franzese was a parishioner of St. Roch's R.C. Church, Port Richmond.

Yolanda, his wife of 42 years, died in 1997.

Surviving are his son, Thomas; his daughter, Julia Franzese-Brogna, and six grandchildren.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Roch's Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton.