Your pain is in my heart.May you find comfort in Revelation21:3,4-“and death will be no more......” .You are in my prayers.

You have my deepest condolences. John 5:28, 29 read "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good to a resurrection of life." I look forward to seeing my uncle and grandfather again and I know that Carmelo will be delighted to see his loving family again as well.

I am so sorry for your loss. I didn't know Carmelo personally but he seemed like a wonderful and admirable human being. Experiencing the death of a loved one is one of the most painful experiences anyone can live through. Nonetheless it's comforting to know that humans were never meant to go through such pain. In fact, we were never meant to die. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God “put eternity in [our] heart.” God also promises us in Psalms 37: 29 that “the righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.” It's nice to know that we won't have to endure such tragedy and suffering for much longer. A website that I find comforting is jw.org. It's a Bible-based website that talks about all the promises that God has for our future. I encourage you to give it a visit, and I hope it can provide some light during this difficult time. Much love and respect.

I would just like to say I am sorry for this enormous loss and the hole it leaves in all of you. I never met your father Adrienne, but felt like I knew him through all the stories you shared with me over the years. I am here for you always! xo

Hey Dad. (Pause). Well, this is difficult- (big understatement). You know I hate to be blasphemous about the written word we both loved, but I gotta tell you, the English language is a bit inept at describing the cauldron inside those of us who love you best. But hey, it is what it is, right? Anyhow and sideways… (Sigh). You were always there. I mean, oak tree rooted. Boulder, immobile. Vines stubborn on stucco. Present. There. Always. Speaking of always… OMG you were always the biggest braggart EVER in the history of brag. Gold medal, yours. Supermarket clerk, work colleague or neighbor- no one was exempt from you bragging up your wife and 2 daughters. A crayon drawing was the next Monet and no man on planet earth beheld a better mate. (Bigger sigh- I know, too much right? But it’s my tribute and I’ll sigh if I want to). Memories… Comic book collections and beauty salon. Ben Hur. Fabrications and fun. Ten Commandments and Camels. Small time hoods. Subway doo-ops. Creature from the Black Lagoon. Junior meets Blondie. Meeting at the monument. Times Square and JFK. White lies and rendezvous. Tiffany’s and true love. Vietnam and e.m. cummings. Snap kicks and sunny Sunday strolls in Central Park. Diapers and dissertation. Wild Turkey on a calm night in a dusky bar- side of ginger ale, please. Private jokes and pool halls. Kung-fu and karate mates making meal time nonsense. “Make it, Blue”. Black Magic Woman. Call me Doctor. ’64 Chevy and “are we there yet?” Lay off. New birth. Azaleas galore. Bad-mitten and head stands. Violin and Cello. Wall paper-black. Purple tub. Greenery. Pinochle and pool. Laughter and love. Cook-outs and popcorn. Ups. Downs. Life. (Small sidebar)- This tribute only allows for one candle- but hey, I know you Dad- You’re thinking candelabra or a really big torch. To conclude – Fact: You were always there…and now you’re not. Fact: Deep holes exist. Love you now and beyond. Peace Out.

This is such a beautiful tribute page. I'll always remember Carmelo as someone who radiated positive light -- warm, smiling, upbeat and inquiring. He embraced live with humor and great enthusiasm, whether it was talking about books, hanging out with the family, or playing doubles ping pong with Jason, Jack, and Michael (remember that?). I will miss his wonderful spirit.

Carmelo was a quietly joyous and deeply spiritual man. He embraced each day as a gift, an opportunity to learn something new. With each discovery, whether grand or granular, Carmelo's appreciation of the wonders of the world expanded. He was a scholar, an intellectual, but never did one feel inferior in his company. Learning was a noble endeavor; people could disagree, but never disrespect. Family meant everything to Carmelo. As a husband, he unabashedly showered Lillian with love and affection. They were true soul mates and as a team, unrivaled. So much caring, so much respect. To be in their company was a true pleasure. As a father, Adrienne and Gillian were warmed by his love, and grew with his encouragement. He loved them dearly and was their greatest fan! As a grandfather, Carmelo was in a class by himself. To Alexandra and Audrey, "Abba" earned a special place in their hearts. He sat with them for hours on end, uninterrupted, laughing, playing, learning, engaging, bonding. Nothing was more important than their time together and, oh, they will miss him so.

What a wonderful memorial page! The photos remind us of of many of the special moments in Carmelo's life and how he was loved by friends and family. The kids, Elise, Nik, and Martin will miss their uncle's many gifts (especially his intelligence, wit, sense of humor, and unending love of literature). They wish they could have had more years to spend with him. He will be remembered and missed by us all, especially by his brother David and his mother Panchita.

Gillian and family, our hearts go out to you at this difficult time. Thank you for letting us get to know how special Carmelo was through this wonderful tribute and through all of the kind words written about him here. We are not at all surprised to learn that he was an incredible person on so many levels. May all of the beautiful memories you have bring you comfort today and always.