Tino Santoro, Sr.

September 3, 1936 - September 3, 2012

NISKAYUNA – Tino Santoro, Sr. 76, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2012. Tino was born in Taormina, Sicily on September 6, 1936 the son of the late Alfio and Catena Santoro. He was educated in Sicily and came to the United States in 1956. Shortly after arriving in America, he met his wife Linda Popolizio Santoro and they were married in 1957. Tino worked for General Electric and retired after 39 years of service. Tino's passion was his music. At the age of 15 he started playing the accordion professionally on cruise ships in Sicily. Tino was the founder of T.S. Ensemble, whose members include his sons Tino Jr. and Al Santoro. His primary enjoyment was his family and his hobbies included fishing, traveling, gardening and wine making. Tino is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Linda Popolizio Santoro; loving sons, Tino Santoro and his wife Terry and Al Santoro and his wife Emily; adoring grandchildren, Giovanni and Maia Santoro; his sister, Franca Santoro and many loving in-laws, nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Tuesday morning at 9 am from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, 501 Union at N. Jay Street, then to St. Anthony's Church, Seward Place, where a Mass will be celebrated at 10AM. Interment will follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Schenectady. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, Monday evening from 5 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made in Tino's memory to the American Diabetes Association online at www.diabetes.org.