Peter "Pete" Patano

Mr.Peter "Pete" Paul Patano, 90, of Biloxi, MS, passed away on Monday, November 23, 2009, in D'Iberville. Pete was born June 7, 1919, in Chicago, IL. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was an Air Force veteran, long time resident of Biloxi, and a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. His parent’s, Michael and Camilla (Zito) Patano, immigrants from Italy, preceded him in death as did a brother, Nicholas (Lillian) Patano, and a sister, Anna (Patano) Masciopinto. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bertie Currington Patano, native of Aldridge, Al, and a brother, Louis Patano, and a brother-in-law, Paul Masciopinto of Chicago. Pete enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on January 28, 1941, and began his military service at Jefferson Barracks, MO. He was eventually assigned to the Army Air Corps Station 8 “tent city”, later named Keesler Air Force Base at Biloxi. While there he met and married his wife Bertie. He took great pride in wearing Air Force blue and in serving his country. Prior to his retirement as a master sergeant, Pete was assigned numerous duty stations in the U. S. mainland and in Thule Greenland, St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea and in Alaska. Pete was considered one of the Air Force’s top dining hall supervisors winning the Hennessey Trophy as the best dining hall on Keesler for several years. He was commended by superiors for his supervision and training of personnel, and numerous innovations in dining hall management, beautification, and food preparation and presentation. He took pleasure in seeing that young Air Force training students from around the country, who could not get home for holidays, especially Thanksgiving or Christmas, were presented with the best family meals possible during holidays. His family was happy to join the young Air Force students on such occasions. After retirement from the military, Pete worked for Strick Trailers in Levittown, PA and Litton Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS. Pete’s joy and pride was his family. If there was a dance, theater, or music performance, a baseball, football, or soccer game involving his children or grandchildren, he was there for them. His home was filled with pictures and he took delight in their achievements. His love for each was evident in everything he did with them. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a large and loving family including four sons and two daughters; Peter Michael Patano, Linda Carol Roberts, Nicki Paul Patano (Mary), Susan Rose Randazzo (Nick), Peter Paul Patano II, and Jim Patano (Pam); eleven grandchildren, Karen Lakeman (Kenny), Jason Roberts (Renee), Jarrod Roberts, Peter Roberts, Natalie Patano, Kimberly Stephens (Bryan), Bobby Herron (Jennie), Bradley Patano (Leah), Angel Myers (Joshua), and Austin and Adam Patano; his fourteen great grandchildren, Tyler Lakeman, Jordan, Allison, Samantha, Bryce, Garrett, and Dustyn Roberts, Chad, Samantha, Breanne and Kassidy Stephens, Alexia Vest, Landon and Anniston Patano, and the newest Sophia Myers; a niece, Annette Patano and nephews Pete (Anna) and Michael (Kathy) Masciopinto, all of the Chicago area. He had many good friends. Among the closest who preceded him in death were, Audrey and George Glazier, Bud Butler, Jim Everett, John Pietrangelo, Tom Sadler, and Harry Davidson. They and their families were especially close and kind to Pete and Bertie. To Dr. Mousa Maalouf of Gulfport, thank you for caring for Pete over the years. Our family also thanks Gulfport Memorial Hospital and the 5C unit nurses, technicians, and Drs. Nathan Boles, Chad LaChance, and Malcolm Dean for their compassion and sensitivity. Our special thanks to the nurses, CNAs, dining, housekeeping, activities, rehabilitation, and all other staff of Greenbriar Nursing Center in D’Iberville for the attention, gentleness, and love shown our Dad. Dr. Stephen Johns and Sheila Jackson Administrator, thank you. Dad looked upon all at Greenbriar, residents and staff, as an extension of his own family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Paddy Mockler at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 27, 2009 at at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi. Friends are invited to visit one hour prior to the Mass. Interment will follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery with military honors. Biloxi National Cemetery limits the number of flower arrangements to four per burial. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, for support of the needy, 2090 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531-3130 will be appreciated. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue, Biloxi, is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com