NIAGARA FALLS — Thomas J. Catanzaro, 82 years old, passed away on September 21, 2019 in the care of his family, Our Lady of Peace community, and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  He was born on March 14, 1937 in Niagara Falls, the son of the late Joseph and Louise (Scozzafava) Catanzaro.

He was an owner, and a builder, of the former Envoy Motor Inn and the Pepies Plum supper club, both in downtown Niagara Falls.  He enjoyed piloting and rebuilding a 46' Chris Craft wood power boat, piloting private airplanes and seaplanes, motorcycle riding, target shooting, flying and building RC aircrafts, traveling with his family, and many other hobbies.  He held a private pilot license for propeller airplanes, a 100 ton master captain's license for boats, and a commercial driving license for trucks.  And, he helped build the Robert Moses power station, the north half of the Robert Moses parkway, and the LaSalle arterial, as an operator of euclids, cement trucks, and other heavy equipment.  He worked for CBS during the filming of a movie, in Niagara Falls, starring Jack Lemon.  And, he raced cars at the Ransomville speedway, won a city Soap Box Derby, played quarterback in junior high, was a pin boy at a few early bowling alleys, and was a batboy at the former Silver Dollar bar located where the Seneca Casino now stands.  His family and friends are at a loss, and they will miss him very much.

Thomas is survived by his sons Thomas J. Catanzaro Jr., and Nicholas J. Catanzaro and his wife Michelle (Schrader) and their son Nicholas and Kelly (Freudenberger) Catanzaro.  Also, he is survived by his brother Vincent Catanzaro and his daughter Veronica; and his nieces and nephews Lisa, Joseph, Jimmy, and John Leone; and Leonard and David Palumbo; and his sister-in-law Dorothy (Jaroszeski) and Jim Sargeant of Lewiston and her children Jeff, Cathy, and Maureen.  Also, many of the above people have degrees, such as Ph.D, M.D., M.S., B.S., and B.A.

In addition, he is predeceased by his wife, of 55 years, Dolores (Jaroszeski) Catanzaro, son Joseph A. Catanzaro; and his sisters and brother-in-laws Janette and Leonard Palumbo, and Rosalie and Joseph Leone.

He will be with us forever.  Visitation, for family, friends and neighbors, will be held on Thursday, September 26th from 2 - 6 PM at the M.J. COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2730 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 where prayers will be held on Friday, September 27th at 11:15 AM followed by Thomas' Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon at St. Mary of the Cataract R.C. Parish, 259 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY.  Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery.  Visit www.mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online condolences.

Eulogy

We are gathered here today in the memory of my father, Thomas Catanzaro.  So that we may remember both the joy that his life gave to us and the pain that his passing brings us.

Childhood. My father grew up on 11th St. in an apartment in Niagara Falls with his parents, brothers, and sisters.  At the time, this was called the "east side" of the city.  Until the age of 18, he and his brother shared a bunk bed in a room so small you could touch both walls with out-stretched arms.

The apartment was located in a neighborhood that had elements of both a "cultural melting pot" and the "late industrial age".  There were immigrants, and many children of immigrants, of all nationalities.  There were several small grocery stores where people bought all their food, including live chickens.  There were train tracks for steam trains that ran from near his home to downtown Niagara Falls.  There were old fashioned refrigerators, which had a big block of ice inside of them for cooling.  There were coal burning stoves for cooking meals and for heating.  And, there were multiparty phone lines for making phone calls and hearing gossip.  These were the  modern conveniences of the time.  My father always talked about the old neighborhood like it was not just a different place, but a different time.  And, I think many of you old timers out there will agree that it was.

Personality. One remarkable part of my father's personality was he liked being resourceful.  He liked thinking outside of the box and solving problems in a unique and resourceful way.  And, he accomplished many things by being resourceful.

For example, some of you may remember he and his father and brother converted a partially burned down building into the former Envoy Motor Inn on a limited budget and using mainly scrap building supplies.  And, he later converted the basement of the Inn into the Pepies Plum supper club.  I think being resourceful showed he was also creative and knowledgeable.  And, I think many of us liked this part of his personality.

Admirable accomplishment. One of the most admirable things my father did was that he led an active life during his long battle with cancer.  This began at age 32 when he was diagnosed and cured of his first cancer.  And later at age 71 and 81, when he was diagnosed and cured of his second and third cancers.  And again at age 82, when he was diagnosed with his last cancer, which was not curable.  Surprisingly, he faced his last cancer with optimism and appeared to make progress.  But, the side effects of the illness and treatment resulted in cachexia and a fatal respiratory problem.

Yet, during his long battle with cancer he accomplished many things and he had many hobbies and interests.  Such as piloting and rebuilding a 46' Christ Craft wood power boat, piloting air and sea planes, motorcycle riding, target shooting, and flying and building RC aircrafts.

And remarkably, he cared for his wife who had been suffering with Alzheimer's for several years.  And, he did this while having his third cancer and during the early stage of his last cancer.  I think him leading an active life for so many years and facing his last cancer with optimism showed he had a lot of will power and courage.

Summary. Finally, I think my father was blessed to have a good life and all of us were blessed to have the joy that he brought into our lives.  He had an interesting childhood.  He was cured of cancer several times during his life.  And, he had the will power to lead an active life during his long battle with cancer.  He was resourceful, creative, and knowledgeable.  And, this was an important part of his personality.  I hope we remember the joy that he gave to all of us and I hope that he has found a way to be with our Lord.