Albert J. Gherardi

Albert J. Gherardi passed away on June 12, 2022.

He was born in Mount Vernon, NY on May 2, 1950 to Jack Gherardi and Marie Petrillo. Albert graduating from Columbus Elementary, Sts. Peter and Paul and Mt. St. Michael, he started working at the family hardware store, Gramatan Hardware at age 10. He spent his days playing football, softball at Mt. Vernon Recreation League, hanging out with his Fleetwood friends and playing guitar, singing and listening to music with his sister, Maryellen and brother, Jack. Albert loved music and taught himself to play guitar when he was a teenager.  He was left handed but played a right handed guitar. He didn’t bother to restring it, he learned all of the chords backwards and upside down. He enjoyed going to concerts with his favorites being Woodstock, Jimi Hendrix, The Rascals, Wings Over America, The Birds, The Who, Darlene Love, Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Al Cooper. In 1968, he attended the University of Dayton where he majored in geology. He returned home to Fleetwood frequently to visit friends and family. While attending a friend’s party on one of these trips home in 1970, he met Rosemarie Frusciante who would later become his wife of 47 years. He graduated Dayton in 1972 and returned to Mount Vernon to work at the family hardware store where he became the owner/manager. He was a local fixture at Gramatan Hardware where he connected with his customers and made many friends, often over conversations about paint or bolts. Albert would take the time to talk to his customers and was extremely patient and attentive, which earned him much love and respect in the community over the next 30 years. Due to his worsening medical condition, he closed the hardware store in 2006. Albert was very hard working, often working 6 or 7 days a week. When he did take a vacation he enjoyed going to Cape Cod annually or heading up to the family farm in Roscoe, NY. The farm was a place where he relaxed by fishing, working on and taking rides in his 1946 Willys Jeep and playing guitar in the family sing-a- longs. Once a year him, his brother, his cousin and his childhood Fleetwood friends would gather up at the farm for a weekend of reminiscing and unwinding.  He was also an avid NY Yankees fan throughout his life and enjoyed watching games or listening to them on the radio. He would often attend games with friends as well as his son, Adam and daughter, Dana. Even though Albert was sick for many years, he always held a positive outlook, was grateful for every moment and maintained a fighting spirit. He is survived by his wife, Rosemarie, his children Dana (Axel, Roscoe, Miss Mo, Barlow Mighty Mouse) and Adam (Miranda); his siblings, Jack (Sue, Alex, Kim & Jessie), Maryellen (Jack, Ali, Ben, Madi & Clayton). The family wishes to thank Dr. Rampal and his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Dr. Ajaimy at Montefiore Medical Center for their care over the years.

The family will receive friends at the Yannantuono Funeral Home in Fleetwood:

Wake Wednesday June 15th from 4pm-8pm.

Service 11:30 am Thursday June 16th at Yannantuono Funeral Home. Interment to follow at Holy Sepluchre.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Albert Gherardi to:

The kidney team at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania via link

https://giving.aws.cloud.upenn.edu/fund?program=MED&fund=601184

Or

Memorial Sloan Kettering via link
https://giving.mskcc.org/donate-now?gclid=Cj0KCQjwwJuVBhCAARIsAOPwGAQCHmbpls0glBjB7M8eSFw-mkMGxumVUxhuHYM6IqqCXkhT6qJrC2saAk_aEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

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