Arthur W. Vaccaro Obituary (2016)

Arthur W. Vaccaro passed away on Wednesday, July 20th, 2016, at the age of 94 after an extended illness. Arthur was born on April 18th, 1922 in Chelsea, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts and was the youngest son of Josephine and Frank Vaccaro, former residents of Sanford, Maine.As an executive working in the shoe manufacturing industry during its heyday in the United States, Arthur previously worked for many companies including Genesco, Weiss and Lawrence, Acme Boot, Melville (Thom McAn), and El Greco where he worked for Charlie Cole, Kenneth Cole's father. He completed his professional career at Nike where he worked with some of the original founders of the company building their US manufacturing presence and traveled extensively for them internationally helping set up their overseas production facilities. During World War II, he served in the U. S. Army Air Corps at Selman Field in Monroe, Louisiana as an engineer.For his entire life, he had a deep love of music and was an accomplished pianist and was awarded a scholarship to Julliard. Arthur was well known in local musical circles where he had appeared in numerous musical programs and was featured on the radio. He also performed for the Armed Services in various events and even played at a pre-show when Bob Hope entertained the troops. His love of music also extended to ballroom dancing; and he was a big fan of the Big Band era. He most recently lived in North Chelmsford, a suburb of Lowell, Massachusetts and also enjoyed his vacation cottage on Square Pond where he spent every summer.Arthur was married for 61 years to the late Marie S. Normand Vaccaro of Sanford and is survived by daughter, Pamela Jane of New Jersey; son, Stephen Joseph and his wife Eva of New York, and daughter Linda Marie of Lowell, Massachusetts. His surviving grandchildren are Sean Joseph Barry and his wife Cassandra of Singapore and Dubai; Kevin Lee Barry of New Jersey; and Kristin Marie Vaccaro, Stephen Joseph Jr. Vaccaro, Stephanie Laura Hom Vaccaro, and Lukas James Vaccaro - all of New York. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Eugene Normand and many nieces and nephews. Arthur was preceded in death by his brother Edward Vaccaro of Malden, Massachusetts. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday August 4th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8PM at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 5th at 10 a.m. at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue in Sanford. Burial with military honors will follow at the St. Ignatius Cemetery. A full luncheon dinner will follow the services.Condolences may be expressed at: www.blackfuneralhomes.comArthur W. Vaccaro