Frank G. Tosto

Frank G. Tosto, 96, of Valley Cottage, NY, passed away Sunday, September 10, 2017 in Nyack, NY. Frank was born Santo Francisco Tosto in Rome, NY on November 1, 1920 to Maria Gracia Palmieri and Giovanni Tosto. After the war, his family moved back to the Bronx. Frank attended Manhattan High School of Aviation and graduated as an aviation mechanic. He enlisted in the Navy after Pearl Harbor and was selected for their flight training program. He graduated in November, 1945 with the rank of 1st Class Navy Aviation Pilot. He became a naval officer and earned his gold wings. He flew the F4U fighter plane off the carrier USS Princeton (CV-37). After 6 years of active duty and 14 years of reserve duty, he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his long aviation career, Frank flew 45 different aircraft types and logged 28,000 flight hours. He retired after almost 30 years of service for American Airlines.

He married his childhood sweetheart Jeannette G. Thomas and together they had four children.

Frank was an avid tournament golfer while a member of the Indian Hills Country Club in Northport, NY. At the young age of 60, he took up downhill skiing at Whiteface Mountain and became very accomplished. He was also a die-hard Mets fan. In 1998, Frank and Jeannette moved permanently to their vacation house in Jay, NY in the Adirondack Mountains. His beloved Jeannette died in January 2000.

While spending their winters in Jay, Frank and Jeannette became friends with George and Birgitte Jobson of Lake Placid and Valley Cottage, NY. After George’s death, Birgitte and Frank became close friends, spending many years together at Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid and Valley Cottage where Frank lived until his passing.

Frank is survived by his brother John Tosto, three children Gregory J. Tosto, Maria Grace Banks and Frank G. Tosto, and daughters-in-law JoAnn Tosto and Vicki Tosto. Frank has 5 grandchildren: Gregory J. Tosto, Christine J. Brissette, Charles W. Berry, Luke Golden and Jeremiah Banks; 6 great grandchildren: Zoe Berry, Charlotte Berry, Jason Tosto, Spencer Tosto, Izayah Tosto and Gianna Golden; and several nieces and nephews. Frank is also survived by his dear friend, Birgitte Jobson. He was predeceased by his daughter Jeannette Berry, his granddaughter Melissa Berry, and eight brothers and sisters.

Visiting will be held at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home in New City on Monday, September 18 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, September 19 at 10am at St. Paul's Church in Congers, and interment will follow at Frederick W. Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spring Valley, NY.

If desired, donations may be made in Frank's memory to the Tolstoy Foundation Nursing Home, 100 Lake Road, Valley Cottage, NY 10989 or to the Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps, PO Box 164, Congers, NY 10920.