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Louis J. 'Chuck' Agresti Liverpool, NY QCWA # 33531 Chapter 29 |
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Louis Joseph 'Chuck' Agresti, W2OPF, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away on Monday, March 5, at his Liverpool home of the last 60 years. He was 96.
Louis began life on the North Side of Syracuse, the son of Angelina De Cerce and Luigi Agresti.
At an early age, he demonstrated the curiosity and remarkable mechanical and electronic ability that would set him apart. He took up ham radio as a child, following the lead of an admired neighbor, and would enjoy this pastime as W20PF all of his life.
He was a shining example of The Greatest Generation, and after graduating from North High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in the years preceding World War II. There, he shared his self-taught skills as a communications instructor in the U.S., before helping set up communication networks while stationed in Cheltenham, England, and Paris after its liberation. He left the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer in 1946 after seven years.
While in Cheltenham, he met the love of his life, Marjorie Aldridge, a British secretary working with the U.S. Army, from the nearby Forest of Dean. They married on July 4th, 1945, and were inseparable for more than 72 years. They shared an enjoyment of dancing, cultural performances, taking walks, and finally, the company of their grandchildren and great grandson.
After his service, he returned to Syracuse, where he worked for the Rural Radio Network, WSYR-TV, and, finally, for General Electric for many decades, as an engineer designing electronic test equipment. Those same skills were employed fixing anything and everything that needed repair. His attention to detail gave him great pleasure, whether listening to jazz or Big Band music full volume in his ham shack or tinkering with his computer or iPad or baking bread or savoring the flavors of fine food and wine.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie (Aldridge) Agresti,; his sister Erma Agresti; his son, Alan Agresti (Jacki); his daughters Audrey Lewis (Tracy) and Margaret Whittles (Dan); his grandchildren Megan McConville (Andrew), Allison Whittles and Timothy Whittles, and great grandson, Louis John McConville. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Fay Schadler.
Services will be held privately with full military honors in Onondaga County Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Syracuse, NY.
Date of Death: March 5, 2018
Published in the Syracuse Post Standard from Mar. 7 to Mar. 11, 2018
First licensed as W8UQT while serving with the 26th infantry(QM Det.) at Plattsburg Barracks, NY in 1940.
Later modified license to W2OPF while serving with the Eastern Signal Corps School at Fort Monmouth,NJ. W2OPF was issued during WW2!! June 1942. After serving with US Army in USA, England and France completed seven years of service. Worked for The Rural Radio Network After the war. Then for the semiconductor division of the G.E. Co for 31 years as Semiconductor Test Equipment Dessgn Eng..
Been retired since 1982 and still enjoying the hobby.