Charles Peter Sollecito, a Montauk resident for nearly 20 years, died of lung cancer on June 26 at the Westhampton Care Center. He was 80.
Born on February 22, 1928, to Pasqua Costora and Pietro Sollecito in Jackson Heights, he lived there most of his life. In 1946, he started two years of service in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Iowa and U.S.S. Tortuga.
Upon his return, he drove a gasoline and oil truck for Cities Service Oil Co. in Long Island City for 30 years. Later, he worked as a chauffeur for the president of Crowley Maritime Corp. at the World Trade Center for many years.
During the 1960s, he kept a pigeon coop in his backyard garage in Jackson Heights along with his partner and nephew, Tommy Jackalone. They trained the pigeons to race and won a number of races under the name of S. and J. Loft, Astoria, N.Y.
On April 27, 1952, he married Dorothy “Cookie” Reithmann at St. Gabriel’s Church in Elmhurst. Mrs. Sollecito recalled last week that the day they married, it poured all day long. “It seemed that the rain was good luck,” she said. They moved permanently to Montauk in September 1988.
In Montauk, during the 1990s, Mr. Sollecito was on the board of directors for the American Association of Retired Persons. He and his wife would host the meetings, serving coffee, tea, cakes and cookies and always making sure there was enough sugar, milk, tea bags, plates and forks. Meeting in the basement of the Montauk Community Church, the two also did work with the Sunshine Department, sending sympathy cards to sick or needy members.
An avid bowler all his life, he and his wife bowled at East Hampton Bowl for the past 15 years. He also owned and loved many pets.
Survivors said last week that he was good-hearted and well liked by everyone, adding that he was dearly loved and will be dearly missed by all.
In addition to his wife, with whom he just celebrated 56 years of marriage, he is survived by a daughter, Patricia Lenz of Montauk; two sons and their wives, Peter and Karen Sollecito of Shirley, and Christian and Elizabeth Sollecito of New Hyde Park; seven grandchildren, Jillian Sollecito Mooney, Michael Viteri, and Peter, Charles, Abigail, Krysta and Christian Sollecito; and a great-grandchild, Cameron Mooney.
In addition, he is survived by three out of 12 siblings, Marie Sollecito, Grace Jackalone and Antoinette LaForge, all of Flushing; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
A funeral service with military honors was held on July 15 at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, where his ashes were placed in the columbaria.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to a charity of choice would be appreciated by the family.
on Jul 15, 2008