Richard Joseph Lerro: February 2012

1918-2013

Richard Joseph Lerro was born February 7, 1918, in Philadelphia. His early years were spent in an orphanage outside of town. His maternal grandmother, Justina Camarrotta Lerro, brought him into her family around age 6, and he grew up behind the counter of the family meat market at 1024 S. Ninth Street in the heart of Little Italy. He was surrounded by aunts and uncles who were just a few years older than him. He married Caroline Fusco in 1939 and had a son, Richard Joseph Lerro, Jr. two years later. In 1941 he joined the U.S. Navy and toured the Pacific, serving in the "Sea Bees" in the Philippines, Japan, and Attu, Alaska. He remained in the Navy Reserves into the 1950s. After the war, Caroline and Richard divorced and he moved to Texas where he met and married Myrtle Metcalf Gibson on April 11, 1956. Together, they moved to Dallas and had a son, Richard Marcus Lerro (b. 1958). Rick Lerro worked as a maintenance man for Standard Brands Foods and St. Regis Paper Company before retiring. Myrtle died in 2007. Rick Lerro died January 20, 2013, in Tyler, Texas, with family at his bedside.

Friday, January 25

Catholic Funeral Mass
St. Boniface Catholic Church
318 South Broad Street
Chandler, TX

Wake for Residents and Staff
Providence Park Rehabilitation Center
-Andrea Bocelli (Italian music!), signing memory books, refreshments. A friendly gathering around the piano.

Inurnment is scheduled later this year at Arlington National Cemetery.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Rick celebrates 94 years!

Rick Lerro celebrated his 94th birthday during an afternoon party that included four generations. Rick's actual birthday occurred February 7.

A dozen family members attended the February 19 celebration in Tyler, Texas. The group presented Rick with a cake with "94" candles, which he quickly blew out following an upbeat singing of "Happy Birthday."

Children entertained themselves with soap bubbles while adults sampled the aged brandy.

The family expressed their thanks to the staff of Providence Park for their support in creating a delightful gathering place for the event.