Andrew Desorbo

Albany - Andrew DeSorbo, 89, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2015 at St. Peter's Hospital from pneumonia. Andrew (Andy) was born in Amsterdam, NY on November 12, 1925 the son of Angelo and Rose Cavaliere DeSorbo, and grew up with his sister Mary Ann Buksa, now deceased, in the Mont Pleasant area of Schenectady.Andy is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Elizabeth (Betty), and his two daughters Karen Holmes of Norfolk, VA and Cynthia Dopjera of Houston, TX. And his nephew Gary Buksa of Schenectady. Andy served proudly in the United States Navy during World War II as a Gunner's Mate, First Class, on the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet, in the Pacific.After his service on the USS Hornet, Andy worked as Mine Sweeper in the Bay of Japan.After the war, Andy worked for the General Electric Company, becoming a Senior Designer in the Steam Turbin Department. Along with his love for his family and the Navy, Andy loved to fly and obtained his pilot's license with commercial and instrumental ratings. In recent years, he served as a volunteer in the restoration of the DEHM/USS Slater, docked in Albany. Andy and Betty raised their children and lived in Guilderland for 48 years and were devoted members of St. Madeleine Sophie parish. Ten years ago, they sold their home in Guilderland and moved to a cottage at Avila, an independent retirement community where he enjoyed playing bridge, billiards and hanging out in the bistro with his buddies.In 2013, Andy suffered a major stroke, and after many months of therapy, resided at Teresian House until his passing.Andy was a generous and caring man. He loved animals and was a friend to every dog he met.He greeted everyone with a big smile for hello and "Ciao" for goodbye.His energy and attention to detail kept him happy and healthy for many years. He will be missed by all who knew him. The family wishes to thank the kind and thoughtful staff, care-givers, volunteers, therapy dogs, and Nuns that work so hard to care for the patients and residents of the Teresian House and the nurses and doctors in ICU at St. Peter's Hospital. A visitation will be held at DeMarco Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Turnpike, Guilderland, NY 12084 on Thursday April 9, 2015 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2015 at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carmen Road, Schenectady, NY. 12303.Burial will follow at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Saratoga, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Food for the Poor, Inc. at 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL, 33073 or the USS Slater at PO Box 1926, Albany, NY 12201-1926.