Vinnie Ambrosia

[pgirty]

Our dear friend Vinnie passed away last night. He was the best friend a 13 year old could have - he laughed at our silliness, cheered us up when we were sad and even after 40 years - he was still the most loyal and true blue friend.
Please share any stories you have of Vinnie - I know it would mean alot to Joyce and Cookie - his little sisters. Patty

[JohnTell]

Such a great loss to all who knew Vinnie...an all around good guy...

In my minds eye I'll always see him making a sparkling play manning "the hot corner" in PS 102 park...



JohnT

[pgirty]

Funeral Services for Vinnie Ambrosio will be on Tuesday at the Schuyler Hill Funeral Home at 3535 Tremont Avenue from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9.

The funeral services will be on Wed 2/24 at St. Francis De Chantal at 10 am.

[Don D]

I agree with John Tell, watching Vinnie hit a softball and play 3rd base at PS102 was always a treat.

Also, when I was about 10 - 12 years and and still practicing to be a "smart ass". Vinnie was working in the Pizza Shop with Freddie "Pizza" Abbamonte. After a few minutes of me busting their chops, both Vinnie & Freddie grabbed me by my hands and feet, opened the bottom pizza oven, that I had thought was "on" and started to put me in feet first. I can't tell you much I kicked & hollered before they put me down and laughing at my reaction while telling me the oven was never turned on. About 10 years later, when I went for a job interview with Freddie at Met Life, he reminded me again of that day. I'm sure it was always a source of amusement for Vinnie & Freddie every time they were together.

Vinnie was one of the many characters that made Stratton Park & Archer Street pretty special and will be missed.

Don Diehl

[JohnTell]

Donald great story...I wish I woulda been there to see the look of horror on your face...<:~)

BTW I called the funeral parlor and they told me the correct spelling of Vinnie's name is Imbrosci...as long as I knew Vinnie I always thought it was Ambrosi...

JohnT

[claire scanlon]

So sorry to hear of Vinnie passing. He was a cool guy. I have a nice picture of him in ps102 i will get it on soon.he had alot of good friends.He will be missed. My thoughts and prays to his sisters.

[matty keenan]

Vinnie was my first friend. We were about 4 years old and were neighbors on Theriot Avenue. It was a time when there was no ps 102 playground and the street was lined with small houses with one real big one across the street on the corner where the handball courts now stand. Our payground was the backyards of Vinnie's the Dondero's and Mrs. Addimack. It was a world of our own where we could be cops, robbers, cowboys and indians and catch fire flies at night.

One special moment shines and it is one I often think about. It was June 1962 and it was Little League Day at Yankee Stadium. My name was selected from a hat to represent Stratton Park. Before I knew what was going on I was escorted to a tunnel between the Yankee dugout and locker room where about 30 other little league kids stood alongside a rubber red carpet. I was a bit shy and timid as great players like Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yoggie Berra and Whitie Ford passed by us. All of a sudden I heard a deep raspy voice call out "Hey, Matty", It was Vinnie and he was selected to represent Van Nest Little League. What a marvelous coincidence, it was like WOW, Vinnie and me, we were both astonished and I now felt comfortable and at ease. Before long we were escorted on to the infield where Vinnie and I played catch with Mel Allen, the great Yankee broadcaser and we used our freshly autographed baseballs to boot. Here we were on the infield of the great Yankee Stadium knowing that the next day we would be laying stickball at 102 surrounded by apartment buildings. Awards to great Yankees were presented and pictures were taken. The next day, the Daily News back cover page had a picture of Vin with a few of the Yankees. I was at the end of the picture and was cut out with my hand showing over Vinnies shoulder. I didn't care that much, it was a great day for both of us and one I cherish to this day. Me and Big Vin with the Yankees.

Big Vin is such an appropriate name because Vinnie had a Big Heart. For about 35 years I had not seen Vinnie. It was about 4 years ago, through the Stratton Park site that we we re-connected. Our first meeting after so many years was like not one day had passed. Vinnie could tell a story like no other and often he was the brunt of the plot. He loved the story of getting stuck in the pigeon coop on Archer Street only to be freed with the help of the fire dept. The truth of the matter was that it was his belt buckle getting caught that prevented him from escaping the embarrassing but memorable event. I have some great Big Vinnie stories but will reserve writing them till another time.

Over the past several months I had some wonderful visits with Vinnie and I know that he was at peace with himself. I also know that he had a strong desire to write something on the site to all of his friends. Just a few weeks ago he asked if I could help him get on the Stratton Park site to write something. I don't know what he was going to say but I'm sure it was a big hearted message of gratitude to all his friends. We didn't have the chance to meet again.

My thoughts are with Vinnie's sisters Cookie and Joyce and brother-in-law Tony. Their remarkable support and love for Vinnie exceeds admiration. I could only hope that they have the love peace and happiness that they gave and continue to give. I know they have the Big Heart of Big Vin with them now and forever. I will miss and never forget my first and best friend, Big Vin. Love, Peace and Happiness, Matt Keenan

[JohnTell]

Matty that was a beautiful tribute to a really good guy...way to go...

JohnT

[Les Sherwood]

John
i was reading eulogies re vinnie Imbrosia with interest.
He seemed to be a very nice person.
I don't thinkI knew him as he appears was one of the "younger, older guys'.
i checked the class pictures for 1963-6 but I did not see his picture.
was he sick for awhile?

condolences to his ffamily.
Les

[matty keenan]

Reply to Les Sherwood - Vinnie was 61 years old and lived on Thieriot just across from the 102 Park entrance till 1964 and then moved to Croes Ave near Soundview but he remained a fixture in the neighborhood for some time. He worked at the Pizza shop on Archer Street for awhile and eventually for the Post Office which he retired from about 4 years ago and then moved from his apartment in Pelham Bay to Straudsburg to live with his two sisters and brother-in-law. He went to St. Dominic's grammar school and always mentioned that he would have liked to have gone to St. Anthony's because all his friends were from Stratton Park. Vinnie wasn't well for the past few years and I was happy to re-connect with him about 3 years ago. He did manage to get to the picnic 1n 2007 and had a great day, and we had some wonderful visits after that. All be well, Love, Peace and Happiness, Matty Keenan

[Les Sherwood]

Matt
Thank you for your imformative reply about Vinnie. As I said before he seems to have ben a great guy, one so many will misss.
Someone said that there is some imformation on facebok under Archer St on Vinnie, however I have not been able to access, as yet.
As yu know we had our reunion of our class of 1955. It was a great success. thanks for your work on the 100 annivesary school tour which we copied.
All the best.
Les

[Jimmy Carolan]

I just found out about Vinnie and wanted to chime in with some sentiments, First of all condolences to Vinnie's family and friends. As has been stated by many Vinnie was always a pleasure to be around. he had a great personality and sense of humor. John Tell, how many times did we break his chops over the "Beautician Shirts" he wore. A guy as big as Vinnie had some trouble being a fashion plate but those blue button down double pocket shirts were memorable. Many have spoke about Vinnie's prowes on the softball field. Many a game we played together. If I may say so Vinnie at 3rd and myself at shortstop, we were a formidable left side. Home Run Derby was always his favorite and he won far more than he lost. I also remember a fishing trip with Vinnie, Ricky Mills and my cousin Steven. I think we left from Freeport Long Island and it got pretty rough. Vinnie was hanging on until an oriental gentlemen next ti hin starting vomiting into a plastic bag. To say Vinnie had an adverse reaction to that was indeed an understatement. Rest in Peace Vin you will be missed.

Jimmy Carolan

[diane estes]

I just found out you left us that knew you and what a sad moment that is.My memories of you are of your kindness and always making me feel comfortable when I walked into a room of people.You were always the first to say hello,whats up Diane how are you doing? Such fun to be around you,always joking around,not sure if your stories were a little bit exaggerated, but funny to listen to.I was a easy target to mess around with,because I would believe the bullsit you would say not knowing you were purposely testing what my reaction would be.It was damn funny(haha).Last time I saw you was with my brother Frank in 1981 when we went to visit you at your apartment. I haven't seen you for awhile and you were the same Vinnie nice as pie.Vinne, God Bless You, I know your making the angels laugh. Always Diane (Estes) Piery.