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Post a reply || Back to Message Board Nicholas A. Purchia - Class of 1945
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Nicholas Anthony Purchia, 90, entered into rest on Monday, March 12, 2018. The
son of the late Pasqualino “Patsy” and Catherine (Alisandrelli) Purchia, he was
born September 5, 1927 in Newburgh. Nicholas was a loving husband, father,
grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many. He always lit up when his
grandchildren and great-grandchild were around. Nicholas was a very talented
man, from musician, artist, carpenter, builder, mechanic, inventor, soldier, you
name it our dad could do it. He was our hero, the man who made everything right
when something went wrong. Nicholas left high school in 1943 to become a sewing
machine mechanic during the war years. He worked for handbag companies and in
several factories that made coats, dresses, undergarments, and aviator jackets
for war work. Dad made cutting dies and heat sealing dies for handbag factories
in Newburgh. He worked for Regal Bag as maintenance supervisor for many years.
Before that he was a manager of Smith Glass Company, where they made the glass
bubbling candles on the Christmas tree light bulbs. He was also Plant Manager of
Classic Case in Middletown, NY where he manufactured and designed eyeglass
cases. He left there to work at West Point and helped organize the best
self-help center for Army personnel on post. Nicholas’s father played trumpet
with DeAugustinos Symphonic Marching Band. By age 6 Nicholas learned to play the
trumpet. He played in the South Jr. High Orchestra, Newburgh Free Academy Band
and Sacred Heart Band. He loved his music and passed his talent and love for
music on to his children and grandchildren. In 1947 he stopped playing the
trumpet and bought a new string big bass. He took lessons from Professor Ortone
and started playing with local dance bands. He played with the Johnny DeSantis
Band and Frank Mekeel Orchestra from 1947-1973. He became a retired member of
Local 238-291 American Federation of Musicians. In 1943 he joined the New York
56th Regiment State Guard Church Drum and Bugle Corps. Then in 1946 he
transferred and enlisted in the National Guard, 170th F.A. BN Newburgh, NY. He
served 23 years and retired as Sergeant 1st Class Nicholas taught his children
everything they knew and he will be greatly missed by his family. He was our
patriarch, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be loved
forever in our hearts for everything he taught us and the values he instilled
into all of our lives forever. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years,
Marie (Valentino) Purchia; his first daughter Catherine Grad and her husband
Mark and their sons Ben and Nicholas; his second daughter Rosemarie Simmons and
her children Jacqueline and Ryan and grandson Adam; his son, Patsy Purchia; and
third daughter Regina Sorace and her husband Joseph III and their children
Joseph IV, Steven and Victoria; his niece Vivian Peroni Cimorelli; and several
cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by
his sister Carmela Purchia Peroni and her husband Joseph, and his nephew Joseph
Peroni Jr. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Friday, March 16 at Brooks
Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held
at 10 am on Saturday, March 17 in Sacred Heart Church. Burial with military
honors will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newburgh.
NFA Class Memorial Page
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Post a reply || Back to Message Board Nicholas A. Purchia - Class of 1945
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