Lifelong Amagansett resident Joseph DiSunno died on April 3 in Sebastian, Florida. The owner and operator, along with his partner and brother Charles DiSunno, of DiSunno Motors in Amagansett, he was 84.
Born July 5, 1924, in Amagansett, to Concetta (née Juliano) and Carmine DiSunno Sr., he attended East Hampton High School.
He and his brother took over the business from their father, who established it as a Packard/Studebaker dealership in 1928. In 1970 and 1971, when it was a Dodge dealership, Joseph DiSunno was the given the Distinguished Dealer Award.
A sergeant E3 in the U.S. Army, he served in the 64th Coast Artillery, 3rd Army, 8th Corps from 1942 to 1945. He participated in the Normandy invasion, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and helped to liberate the concentration camp at Buchenwald during World War II. He was awarded Bronze Stars for the Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland campaigns, and an additional Bronze Star for Ground Combat.
A member of the American Legion since 1944 and a chairman of the house from 1950 to 1962, he was instrumental in the construction of the Amagansett Legion Post 413 and in the renovation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 550. He was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge.
He was known for his strong family values and for his love of his country. According to family, he was red, white, and blue through and through and his colors never ran.
In addition to his wife, Betty Cartwright DiSunno of Amagansett, he is survived by three daughters, Lynn DiSunno and Marie Lombardi of East Hampton, and Denise Francis of Florida; two sons, Joseph W. DiSunno and James DiSunno of East Hampton; a sister, Rose of Florida; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was predeceased by a son, Leonard DiSunno, and seven siblings.
Visitation will be on Thursday, April 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Friday, April 10, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Yardley & Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 11, at noon, at Most Holy Trinity, followed by interment in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Soldier Ride/Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 1905, Amagansett, NY 11930 would be appreciated by the family.
on Apr 7, 2009