Thomas Howard Grimaldi
Thomas Howard Grimaldi of East Quogue died on Wednesday, October 31, of congestive heart failure. He was 88.
Mr. Grimaldi was born on April 1, 1924, and was originally from Jackson Heights, where he attended St. Joan of Arc School. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at the age of 17, serving in England during World War II.
Mr. Grimaldi built and managed a successful restaurant, The LaCapri, in Jackson Heights for more than 30 years. It was a popular place for locals and notables, particularly ballplayers and staff of the New York Mets.
He sold the business in 1975 and moved to East Quogue with his family and purchased another restaurant, The Court in Riverhead, and sold it a few years later. He then joined the United States Postal Service and worked as a letter carrier in Hampton Bays until his retirement.
He is survived by his children, Patricia Lutzky of East Quogue, Matthew Grimaldi of Pennsylvania and Thomas E. Grimaldi of New Jersey. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Stephen Lutzky and Tayla and Jake Grimaldi.
He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Grimaldi (nee Christensen), and his daughter, Catherine Grimaldi.
The family received friends at the Follett and Werner Funeral Home on Sunday, November 4. A funeral Mass was held on Monday, November 5, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Quiogue. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery.
on Nov 5, 2012