Patsy V. Paglen

In Loving Memory

On the morning of May 6, 2016, Patsy Vincent Paglen passed away peacefully at Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, NY from complications related to bladder cancer; while in the company of family members.  Patsy was 90 years old.

Mr. Paglen was born on October 4, 1925 in Newburgh, NY.  The first son of NYC Police Officer Arthur Paglen (aka Attelio Paglialunga) and homemaker Olga Paglen (aka Mary Olga Pesavento).  Upon the death of Patsy’s mother, when he was just eleven years old, he and his two younger brothers Frederick Richard and James Phillip moved from Brooklyn, NY to live on their Paglialunga grandparents’ fruit farm in Marlboro, NY.  Patsy and his brothers returned to Brooklyn, NY when his father remarried.  When his stepmother Louise passed away approximately 18 months later, Patsy and his brothers went to live with their aunt Adaline “Lena” Ortale in Newburgh, NY.  Patsy attended Newburgh High School where he met and eventually married his high school sweetheart, Teresa Irene Merritt.

Mr. Paglen enlisted in the US Navy at age 17 on July 20, 1943 and served throughout WWII until March 20, 1946.  Most of Patsy’s military career was spent in the Mediterranean as Radioman for the minesweeper USS Effective.  He and his future bride fell in love through letters exchanged during the war.  Teresa and Patsy married on May 4, 1947; living first in St. Albans, NY, then in Rosedale, NY and ultimately in St. James, NY.  Patsy and Teresa raised and loved six children: Olga Ann Cascione, Patrick George Paglen, Melanie Mary Boslego, Peter Arthur Paglen, Eudora Frances Sommers and Keith James Paglen; eighteen grandchildren and nine (and counting) great grandchildren for the next fifty plus years in a home he built with the help of his contractor and friend Hugo Dalene.

Mr. Paglen was a respected FDNY Battalion Chief who retired with the 50^th Battalion in Queens, NY.  He spent the earlier part of his thirty five year career serving as Fireman and Lieutenant of Engine 76, and then as Captain of Ladder 22 in Manhattan, NY.

For many years, Mr. Paglen was Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 7 in St. James, NY where he embodied the values and life lessons of the organization.  If he wasn’t skiing with family and friends or perfecting his golf game you could find Patsy in his tool shed working on a project or taking his family camping in upstate NY.

Patsy was preceded in death by his father Arthur Paglen, mother Olga Paglen, and brother Frederick Paglen.

Mr. Paglen will be waked at Moloney Lake Funeral Home, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY on May 12, 2016 from 2-4 PM & 7-9 PM.  His funeral mass will be held at Saints Philip & James Church, St. James, NY on Friday, May 13 at 11:15 AM.  Burial is immediately following at Calverton National Cemetery.

Patsy V. Paglen was an influence in so many lives and his guidance helped light the path that many travel today.  His love was evident especially when he was embracing a friend or family member in a crushing bear hug.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Mr. Patsy V. Paglen to the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation.  www.nyffburncenter.com