I am deeply saddened to hear of Mr. Larezzo's passing. My Dad's loving tribute (John Burns) made me smile thinking about the times we would visit his families' home, where my brothers and I would play with his three boys as kids. Of course, I was the only girl and my 2 brothers and the three boys got along fabulously-I'm sure I was included despite being the only girl, and that I was included in the wiffle ball and hide and seek games we'd play as they brought up 3 fine young men that Mr. Larezzo was very proud of. Mr and Mrs Larezzo always made me feel comfortable as the only girl there, as they'd play their records for me (Whitney Houston's first album I recall listening to in their living room, maybe even Sade?). Dancing and singing in their home was a fond memory I have of visiting their home. I also remember Mr. Larezzo's love of dogs and I remember Tasha fondly and believe she was a hunter/ had a love of rabbits maybe? I just remember her always racing after something, and maybe escaping the house too. Mr. Larezzo was not only one of my Dads best friends, he was without a doubt, my Dad's funniest friend. He always had a great sense of humor and my brothers and I always looked forward to hearing his jokes and having him come visit. He was a great man and will be sorely missed. RIP Mr. Larezzo and my deepest condolences to Mrs. Larezzo and the whole family.

I first met my good friend Roy while in graduate school at St. John’s University matriculating towards my MBA degree in 1965. Between classes, spent in each others company, a strong friendship that has lasted throughout our lives took root and blossomed. I remember the day Roy, before class, informed me that he’d accepted an executive trainee position with the Abraham & Strauss (A&S) Department Store chain at its Brooklyn based store. As I, too, was considering full time employment at the time, I asked him what they offered him. He answered A&S was still hiring and shared with me the magnitude of the offer he accepted which I raised by $500 in configuring the salary demand I submitted to A&S. The info Roy had out of friendship afforded me helped me launch my executive career at $8000 per annum, making me the highest paid member within the ranks of my A&S training class. Prior to Roy being drafted into the Army our time at A&S somewhat overlapped. I remember once looking across the A&S great floor expanse and catching a fleeting glimpse of Roy , from where I served as an assistant buyer in the men’s sportswear department , doing his duty as an assistant buyer in the women’s hosiery department. I felt at the moment that A&S management had made a grave mistake by placing my macho buddy Roy in the women’s hosiery dept; but what did I know then? I too was learning the business! Our treasured time at A&S ended when Roy moved on to accept a marketing position with a hosiery firm and was later conscripted to serve valiantly our country during his Army tour in Vietnam. Our paths intersected briefly again when he attended my 1970 wedding to my spouse, Joan, after his return from VIetnam. As we celebrated together our wedding we talked some about Vietnam, a country to which I was bound two weeks hence. Once again I was pumping him for info and advice knowing it‘d be sage and valuable . After I returned from Vietnam, Joan and I met the true light of Roy’s life, his beloved soulmate who we have been blessed in spacetime to know as Connie Larezzo. From our long and firm friendship with Connie and Roy both Joan and I mined treasured memories of our three children playing with Roy and Connie’s three boys, Mark, Danny and Mathew. We also have fond memories of times spent in Maine at their camp. We watched many a sporting event together, most of which involved the NY Yankees which leads me to confess to my current conundrum - “Why was Roy a NY Yankee fan? “ He was born in Brooklyn! I, myself evolved from a kid born in the Bronx, to be a lifelong, steadfast fan of the Yanks, conditioned early on to root against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Somehow I fathom Roy’s fan gene mutated towards perfection! Albeit Roy and I shared enjoyable, competitive moments, on both tennis and basketball courts, at times imagining we were professional athletes while sometimes announcing, in childlike manner, our superlative performance to the then uncaring folks about us. I can confess now how in awe and a bit envious I’ve always been of Roy’s varsity high school athletic career in baseball, basketball, and football, and later his baseball performance while a catcher for Manhattan College. Perhaps, were it not for Yogi, Elston , or Thurman, Roy might have made it to the show. And, yes, there is baseball in heaven and Roy now plays it to perfection. Thanks for the great memories, Roy, and the friendship you and Connie have afforded us over the years.
Connie - To you, to Mark, Danny and Mathew and to all your family we extend our sincerest condolences on your temporal loss of Roy. Both Joan and I will miss him greatly. We now have one more star to guide us and its light beams forth from Roy.j

Rest in Peace, dear Roy, and rise in glory! You led a remarkable life and were a kind and charitable friend to Bob and I for many years. Love and prayers to Connie, Mark, Danny, Matthew and Media.