Gregory Villella
Gregory A. Villella of East Quogue, a self-made entrepreneur and businessman in downtown Riverhead for three decades, died on April 27. He was 95.
Born in Falerna, Italy, on February 25, 1916, Mr. Villella was one of six children of Dominick and Raphaella Villella. He began his training as a shoemaker at the age of 10 under the watchful eye of his grandfather in his hometown of Falerna. There were no factories at that time and all the shoes were made by hand. Mr. Villella also had a love for music, and between the time spent in school and shoemaking, he became an accomplished musician and music teacher.
Following his father, also a shoemaker, he emigrated to America at the age of 18 and worked at Miller, a Manhattan shoemaker, followed by Leo Theatrical Shoe Company and Capezio, where he made dance shoes for the well-known professional dancers of that era.
In 1942 he opened his own store in Brooklyn, Gregory Rx Orthopedic, specializing in orthopedic and corrective footwear. It was in Brooklyn where he met Anna Cirillo, who became his wife in 1941. His wife was his lifelong partner, working side-by-side with him in the business. In 1955, Gregory moved his family and business to Riverhead, where he opened a full-service family footwear store on Griffing Avenue. Eight years later he moved Villella Shoes to a larger retail space on East Main Street where the business operated until 1998.
Mr. Villella was long active in local fraternal and business organizations. He was a member of the Riverhead Kiwanis for more than 30 years and was treasurer of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce for 28 years. He was also a member of the Riverhead Town Advisory Committee.
He is survived by his children, Vincent, a former Riverhead Town Supervisor, and his wife, Ellen, of Wading River, and Dominick and his wife, Christina, of Connecticut; grandchildren, Jason and Aimee Villella of Wading River, and Michael, Steven and Kerry Villella of Connecticut; six great-grandchildren; and his former daughter-in-law, Maureen Villella, who was his caregiver in the last year of his life.
He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Anna; a daughter-in-law, Barbara; and siblings, Julia, Alba, John, Olindo and Oscar.
Visitation took place on Sunday, May 1, at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A private service was held on Monday, May 2. Interment followed at St. John’s Church Cemetery in Riverhead.
Memorial donations to the American Cancer Society, 75 Davids Drive, Hauppague NY 11788 would be appreciated by the family.
on May 3, 2011