A veteran of World War II who was eagerly anticipating a trip to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day passed away on Thursday while in Germany. Robert “Al” Persichitti of Fairport, New York, fell ill during a stop and passed away in a hospital at the age of 102.
His longtime friend and priest, the Rev. William Leone, shared that Persichitti had attended many World War II remembrances in the past and was excited to be part of the D-Day ceremony as well. Unfortunately, he did not make it to France as he had hoped.
Persichitti enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served as a radioman on the USS Eldorado during World War II. He participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific and witnessed the iconic moment of the U.S. flag being raised on Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. He revisited Iwo Jima in 2019, shortly before his 97th birthday.
Before embarking on his journey to Europe, Persichitti shared that his cardiologist encouraged him to go on the trip, which he was very excited about. As a retired public school teacher, he often spoke about his wartime experiences in schools and community events. He also authored an autobiography for his family in 2015. Persichitti led
