Obituary of Basil B. Baldanza

Basil B. Baldanza Sr., 88, of Rome, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 in Albany, NY. He was born in Oneida, NY on September 4, 1920, a son of the late Ben and Josephine Fazio Baldanza. Basil graduated in 1937 from Oneida High School. On October 14, 1948 he married Norma V. Guaspari in St. John The Baptist Church. She passed away October 24, 1983. Basil retired from the U.S. Navy as a Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of service where he served in World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. He also retired from federal service after 20 years at Griffiss Air Force Base as a technical branch chief. Surviving are two sons and a daughter-in-law, Joseph M. Baldanza, Framingham, Mass., Ben and Marcia Baldanza, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Judith and Timothy Looker, Lia and Danny Farrington, all of Albany, N.Y.; four grandchildren, Matthew and his wife Vanessa Looker, David and Elizabeth Farrington, Enzo Baldanza; and a sister, Catherine Cozzo, Philadelphia, Pa. He was predeceased by a son, Mark A. Baldanza, who passed away September 9, 1991, six brothers, Sam, Ben, Joe, Lois, Victor and Frank Baldanza. Services are private. There are no calling hours. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush funeral Home, Inc., 218 W. Court St.