Obituary of John A. Pepe

     Mr. John A. Pepe, 96, formerly of Amsterdam, passed away Monday morning, March 18, 2019 at the Del Ray Medical Center, Del Ray Beach Florida with his loving family at his side. 

      He was born March 3, 1923 in Amsterdam, the son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth Inzinna Pepe Sr.  He was a lifelong Amsterdam resident and was a 1940 graduate of the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School in Amsterdam. 

     John served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operation on the island of Saipan. He was assigned to a Combat Aircraft Support Unit (CASU) F-48 flying in PBY/PBM flying boats. 

      He went on to pursue a degree in engineering from RPI in Troy.   He was first employed as an engineer for Black Engineering out of Clifton Heights PA, Maddington Highlands Long Island City.  He also worked for the NYS Thruway Authority as a Field Engineer on the Amsterdam to Fort Plain NYS Thruway. He also served as City of Amsterdam engineer for a short time.  He was last employed as Commissioner of Public Works for Montgomery County retiring December 31, 1982 serving the county for 28 years.   He was responsible for a number of construction projects throughout the county such as the extension of Golf Course Road and the first use in the Unites States of Gabon Baskets, a European designed retaining wall system. 

     John was a member of the St. Agnello Club, VFW Post #55 in Amsterdam, Sirchia Post, 3^rd Degree Knights of Columbus Council #209, Amsterdam.  He was past president of the NYS County Highway Superintendent’s Association, a charter member of the Association for Solid Waste Management and served as Treasurer. He was an honorary member in the Montgomery County Town Highway Superintendents Association and a Communicant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Amsterdam.  In retirement, he enjoyed flying and piloted his own planes.  He was an avid golfer, dabbled in oil painting and a bocci player in the Thursday night bocci league on the south side of Amsterdam. In his later years he also enjoyed traveling to Sicily to visit with his cousins. 

          He married the former Louise J. Zeppieri on September 8, 1946.  She passed away on February 9, 2012. 

     Survivors are two sons, John J. Pepe (Barbara) of Berlin, Germany, William S. Pepe (Kathleen) of High Point, North Carolina. Two brothers, James and Joseph (Sally) Pepe.  Cherished Grandchildren, Melissa, Joshua, Zackary and Bethany, Great grandchildren, Emma, Matthew, Julianna, Jacob and Liam. Nieces, nephews and cousins.

       He was recently predeceased by his brother,  Sam Pepe and a sister, Salvina (Pepe) Fischetti.      

       A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday March 25, 2019 at 11:15AM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam with Father Lawrence J. Decker as celebrant.   Military Honors will be rendered in the church following the funeral Mass on Monday.   Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Amsterdam.    The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday March 24, 2019  from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, NY 12010.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the American Cancer Society.