Friends remember local WWII veteran who died en route to D-Day commemoration

Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — World War II veteran Robert Persichitti from Fairport died while traveling to Normandy, France on Friday for a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. He was 102 years old.

Persichitti's friends say he was a generous man who had a zest for life and was always up for traveling to WWII commemorations.

Pastor William Leone says his 46-year friend had lived an extraordinary 102-year life, enjoying traveling the world and sharing his stories with younger generations.

"It was a privilege to know him, and I will miss him. He had a real zest for living," Leone said. "He would go visit children in the grammar schools in the area, talk with them about his experiences growing up, his experiences during the Second World War."

Al DeCarlo was also a friend of Persichitti's and his travel companion.

In 2019, 13WHAM interviewed both men while they were on a trip to the South Pacific.

"It's a great feeling to be able to come back here and to see how well these people have done," Persichitti said in that interview.

BACKGROUND: WWII vet, Pittsford history teacher returns from a trip to Iwo Jima | South Pacific trip highlights the friendship between teacher, WWII vet

DeCarlo was traveling with Persichitti to Normandy on Friday when his friend became ill during a stop in Germany. He was airlifted to the hospital and died shortly after.

"The doctor was with him. He was not alone, he was at peace and he was comfortable," DeCarlo said. "She put his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, on her phone and he peacefully left us."

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DeCarlo said Persichitti was an inspiration to him and was thrilled to be with other World War II veterans before his death.

"He was a radio man on a communications ship off the coast of Iwo Jima and Okinawa," DeCarlo said. "He met another radio man, I think he was from the Army, and they were chatting about things from 80 years ago. It was amazing to watch."