Obituary of Albert L. Monaco

Dateline: Ballston Lake

Albert L Monaco passed away peacefully on June 11^th, 2020.   Born in Schenectady, the son of the late Patsy and Anna Monaco. 

He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 49 years, Carol (Griesemer) Monaco.

Survivors include a daughter, Gina (Anthony) Curcio, and four sons, Brian (Julie Bushee) Monaco, Christopher (Pamela) Monaco, Scott (Michele) Monaco, Quinton (Cassie Rivers) Monaco.  He is also survived by 6 grandchildren.

He is also survived by several brothers and sisters, Anthony Monaco, James (Cecelia) Monaco, Joseph Monaco, Harry (Anglea) Monaco, Pasquale (Verna) Monaco, Olivio Monaco, Donald (Kathryn Oppedisano) along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by several brothers and sisters, Benny, Louis, Joseph, Theresa, Sophie Wolfersheim, Jennie Odorizzi, Josephine DeFlippo, Kathryn D’Ambro.

Per Albert’s request there will be no funeral or services.   Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences www.glenvillefuneralhome.com

A Life Celebration of Albert Monaco

Albert, “Bert”, “Al”, “Pop Pop”, and so many other references depict the man you were to so many.
Your passing is taking place in a moment in history when the world is facing a pandemic and many people your age crossed over and continue to do so. You were spared the dreaded COVID-19 virus and despite the medical fragility you faced, that wasn’t going to hit Albert Monaco’s body. For that, we are grateful and it is just one of many signs of your resilience.

From the day you were born, you grew up with a large family support system where hard work was required and material items…not so much. You were a kid who grew up in a small Ballston Spa home where your mom, Anna (later known as “Meatball Grandma”) set up a shop in your living room selling her homemade sauce and your dad, Patsy was a foreman at a tannery making $1,500 a year to support  15 children. Hand-me-downs were the norm, but large family dinners and gatherings were as well.

You were always a big sports enthusiast and what a surprise to go to dinner with Scott at a relative’s restaurant only to see an old photo of you and one of your brothers on the football team! That passion carried you as your own children participated in baseball, football, horseback riding, and the establishment of the “Bleacher Creature” fan group. When you weren’t working your day job, you were watching your kids play sports and also refereeing until your legs cramped up, but I know you loved being involved despite that.

When you graduated high school, you began a career that didn’t really end until 3 or 4 retirement attempts! As a butcher, it was commonplace to stockpile a lot of meat. Heading to the airport, a ham was in hand and trips to Illinois always included a cooler of meat!

Your first wife, Mildred (Chaplin) was only with you briefly and you had Gina shortly after the two of you were married. We don’t know too much about this time in your life, only that she succumbed to an illness and died in 1965. Being a single dad during that time had to be tough and we are so glad Gina is your first born and started the Albert Monaco legacy.

Carol stepped in to help with Gina and a romance blossomed.  In 1966, you wed. With marriage, you and Gina became a family of 3. Then came Brian, Chris, Scott, more foster children and babies than I can count, then Quinton. Your modest home housed both the children and a mother-in-law and with so many siblings still in the area and a welcoming home, it was always full of chatter and activity.

While you worked a couple jobs at a time, summers were still spent camping in your pop-up camper and every time we visited Moreau State Park, I could see the enjoyment the outdoors brought. Despite my limited camping experience and a first camping trip with Scott where I sat on a chair reading Business Week and freaking out over a skunk that passed my way, it was because of his upbringing, I still love to camp and be in nature.  You were a minimalist before it was cool! And even with all the jobs you carried, you were supportive and came to a home that had so many foster children coming and going. What an amazing decision you and Carol made when Quinton became a permanent member of the Monaco household.

As your kids grew up, you became a father-in-law and willingly embraced and welcomed us to the family. My introduction to you came when you were in Illinois visiting Chris and Pam (and Scott who just moved here). I wanted to make a good impression, so I bought a cake from a local bakery in my Chicago neighborhood. Lo and behold, as I pulled out of my spot to make my way to Lindenhurst, an opossum flew out of the alley and I had to brake hard. Down went the cake sitting on my seat and when I arrived with the messed up cake and explained, you hollered with laughter! My fears of being liked by the family quickly faded after that. Shortly before then, you became a grandpa to Marisa and relished in spending time with her. Within a couple years, along came Ryan, then Karly, then Kristen, then Carolyn, and Alyssa, also a few other kids who would see you as grandpa. You were always so proud of them and loved to let them sit on your lap and eat peanuts or candy. When Martha’s was becoming a staple in the family, you never hesitated to hop in the car and join any one of us who had an interest. Even when you were on diuretics and had to pee a lot, it didn’t matter if a trip to Martha’s was planned!

You were a creature of habit and enjoyed your routine of coffee (oftentimes with Bill), newspaper, sports, sitting outside and watching the birds, and drinking another cup of coffee after dinner. When you were able to travel, you discovered the fun of cruising or visiting the Caribbean besides the regular trips to Texas and later, Illinois. No matter where you were, people watching was a pastime and hobby you enjoyed.  You also spent a lot of time at the track enjoying the morning workouts and picnicking with family while some of us bet and won, and some not so much!

There has always been large extended family members and friends like Bill and Jean and their kids who were a regular part of your life, but as there is life, there is also death. While we are here mourning your loss and missing you already, there are dozens of friends, brothers, sisters, other family, and Carol and Jean as well (who I’m sure made quite the welcome for you) and I can only imagine the joy you are experiencing getting reunited with them. You lived a great life and we are ready for times of celebration where you and Carol can watch over us and enjoy our milestones from the thin veil that separates us. We have a graduate, couples who are on the brink of marriage (yay for Cassie being our new sister-in-law soon), and hopefully a larger extension of family as we watch our kids meeting their partners and maybe having kids and/or fur babies. Yes, we will have hardships, too but in each moment of our lives, please nudge our hearts and remind us of the important life lessons. The biggest lesson of all is love, and we carry it with us as we know you do as well. Goodbye for now , but let us all be attuned to moments of feeling your presence until we meet again.

Love, Michele and Family