By Albert Amateau
Romolo Marcucci, born and raised in the Village and a lifelong resident of the neighborhood, died March 9 in St. Vincent’s Hospital at the age of 86.
He had been diagnosed with a blood condition, and died after a brief hospitalization, according to his daughter, Sue Lawley.
A partner with his older brother and a friend in Capps & Co., a Long Island manufacturer of steel styluses used in the recording industry to cut discs, he retired in 1975 when the company was dissolved because of changing audio technology.
He was drafted during World War II and served in the 215th Field Artillery in Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria and Germany, winning three Bronze Stars.
Born on Downing St. to parents who emigrated from Italy, he was one of four children and the second son of Salvatore Marcucci, from Lecce, Italy, and May Fiocco Marcucci, from Sicily. His father was a blacksmith who worked in various iron foundries in the city.
“Whenever I pass a wrought-iron fence in the Village I wonder if my grandfather made it,” Lawley said.
Romolo Marcucci went to Textile High School on W. 18th St. and was drafted into the Army in 1944.
“He met my mother, Catherine Giacalone, in the Village, but he didn’t want to get married and leave her while he was in the service,” his daughter said. “But when he came home on a furlough in 1945, my mother’s family immediately made wedding plans. They were married in Our Lady of Pompei in September,” Lawley said.
After the war he worked for a while in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but was recruited by his older brother, Americus — known as Richard — to work with him at Capps & Co. When the owner retired, he sold the business to the Marcucci brothers and their friend, Salvatore Gualtieri.
Romolo’s wife died in 1981. He was a member of the Caring Community’s Senior Center at Our Lady of Pompei.
“He went to the center every day to have lunch with his friends until a few months ago,” his daughter said.
In addition to his daughter, of Cedar Grove, N.J., two sons, Dr. Richard Marcucci, of Bedford, N.H., and Romolo Marcucci, of Chatham, N.J., and nine grandchildren survive.
Perazzo Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. The funeral was on Fri., March 13, at Our Lady of Pompei, at Carmine and Bleecker Sts.
