Thomas J. Pratico, Sr.

June 12, 1924 - July 19, 2011

REXFORD – Thomas J. Pratico, Sr. 87, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Tuesday at his residence with his loving family at his side. Tom was born in Rutland, VT, a son of the late Philip and Josephine Pratico. He came to Schenectady as a young man, attended Oneida School and graduated from NYS Vocational School in Troy. He honorably served in the US Navy during WWII, in the European Theatre. Tom was stationed throughout Africa and the Pacific and fought bravely in the battle of Iwo Jima. Tom was a master craftsman and wood worker. He constructed many homes throughout the Capital Region, after returning from WWII. He worked for Central Markets/Golub Corporation in maintenance and construction. Tom founded the Datina Construction Corporation with his son Tom and continued building homes and commercial properties throughout the area. Tom was the resident ‘St. Joseph’ at St. Anthony’s Church. He faithfully devoted his time, patience and love of carpentry to many projects assigned to him. Tom was a man of great virtue; he loved his family and had a true passion for building; the Adirondacks and especially Schroon Lake. For his entire life, he was avid hunter, a multi-species fisherman and could still shoot his age of 85 on the golf course. Tom was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church. The Pratico family is forever grateful to Dr. Toll, Dr. Silvers, Dr. Olds, the nurses at NY Oncology, the staff at Ellis C1, Hospice, Fr. Richard Carlino and Sr. Maria Rosa Querini for their care, encouragement and love, throughout life and especially Tom’s illness. A special thank you with much appreciation and love to David Pratico for his gift of time, dedication and compassion to his grandfather. Tom was predeceased by his parents, and his brother, Pasquale ‘Bud’ Pratico; his brother-in-law Rocco Matricardi and his sister-in-law Gilda Matricardi. Survivors include, his beloved and devoted wife, of 62 years, Mary Matricardi Pratico whom he married August 28, 1948; his loving sons, Thomas J. Pratico Jr. and his wife Sandy of Rexford, Joseph Pratico and his wife Dottie of Glenville, Michael Pratico and his wife Paulette of West Brookfield, MA and Daniel Pratico of Rexford; adoring grandchildren Christina and Joseph Banner, David Pratico, Erica Wilders, Keri and Daniel Hladik, John Pratico and Joseph Pratico; cherished great-granddaughter Sophia Marie Banner; his brother Philip Pratico and his wife Elinore, of Rotterdam; sister-in-law Mary Pratico of Schenectady and many loving nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Monday morning at 10 am from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, Union at N. Jay Street, then to St. Anthony’s Church, Seward Place, where a Mass will be con-celebrated at 11AM. Interment with full military honors will follow in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, Sunday afternoon from 1 to 5 pm. The family requests flowers not be sent, memorial contributions may be made in Toms’ memory to St. Anthony’s Church, 331 Seward Place, Schenectady, NY 12305; or to the Venerini Missions, 23 Edwards Street, Worcester, MA, 01605 or to his grandson Joseph’s Autism Program, RRI Community Day Service, PO Box 38, Sturbridge, MA, 01566