Vincent Napolitano

Vincent Napolitano was born November 7, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, to loving parents Mary and Thomas Napolitano. His older siblings, Maryann and John, welcomed him joyfully and immediately identified him as their baby brother, a term of endearment which endured throughout the years. Vincent attended East Meadow High School, where he was recognized for his loyalty, sense of humor and artistic talents. He inherited a love for the Yankees, the Giants, the Knicks and the Rangers, a fitting birthright. If any, all, or several of his teams were playing, he was found eating a huge sandwich, while shouting at the television and offering explicit advice to players and coaches. From the very beginning of his life, Vincent viewed music as the great elixir. In essence, he loved music and loved to dance, particularly to the tunes of Sinatra and Elvis. In fact it was customary for these artists to announce his arrival long before he reached the house. He’d have the windows to his car rolled down as the melodies blared from the CD player. He knew every word to every song, and he would climb the stairs announcing his arrival humming a melody or dramatically reenacting several verses. One of his all time favorite songs was Sinatra’s rendition of “I’ve Got The World On A String.” In a distinct way, it revealed his zest for life and his quest to immerse himself in relationships. He sought fellowship and worked well on a buddy system. He would quip that one of his long time buddies was his Irish brother-in-law Michael DeMayo. He married and on February 14, 1992, his precious daughter Nicole Elizabeth was born; she immediately stole his heart and immediately became the love of his life. He treasured her presence in his life and perceived heras a gift from God. He thrived on and yearned for relationships. Emanating from an Italian heritage, he would often joke that he bled red, white and green. Cultures were important to him; he was embracing and everyone knew that. He truly believed the only solution to a good argument was a meal; it was an intimate, personal approach to soothing all the wounds, and it worked. Breaking bread as a family was sacred and being invited to the table sacramental. There was no greater representation of amity or concord. In true Italian fashion, he would say, “Sit down. Take a load off your feet and eat something.” Friends and family would laugh and do exactly as he said. Everyone was invited to the Napolitano table for dinner. It was understood that none should eat alone especially during the holidays, specifically Thanksgiving and Christmas. Dutifully, his mother would always have extra plates set in anticipation of the unexpected guests he would bring with him for dinner. It was unspoken, understood, welcomed, essential and intrinsic to his fiber to include everyone. Vincent was a special, sensitive person. He was an entrepreneur; however, he was renowned for his cooking and baking. He made every recipe his own by introducing different herbs and spices and then challenged his guests to determine what he had added or deleted. In a way, he refined the tastes of those around him; he had a discriminating palette and urged all to develop one of their own. He was meticulous, pristine, impeccable, cavalier, engaging. He never met a stranger and his family would say, “Once you’ve met him, you will never forget him.” He cultivated many unique relationships, and his relationship with Jesus Christ was personal and intimate. He never ended a phone call without telling his parents that he loved and missed them. He was a fragile, endearing soul who will be sorely missed but has now found peace in the loving arms of the Creator.