Bob Persichitti, a 102-year-old World War II US Navy veteran, passed away while on his way to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Persichitti, who served aboard the USS Eldorado in the Pacific at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Guam, was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame in 2020.
Persichitti was described by Honor Flight Rochester President and CEO Richard Stewart as a “wonderful, pleasant, humble guy” who was easy to talk to. Unfortunately, he fell ill during a stop in Germany while en route to Normandy and passed away soon after being airlifted to the hospital. According to Stewart, Persichitti had heart problems in the past but was in superb health for his age.
Born in a coal mining town outside Pittsburgh, Persichitti worked as a carpentry teacher in Rochester, New York after the war. In 1972, he received a degree from SUNY Buffalo. Despite not making it to France for the D-Day commemoration, Persichitti’s service and dedication to his country will always be remembered. He will be deeply missed by his friends and colleagues at Honor Flight Rochester and the entire veteran community.
