| Date of Birth | February 13, 1929 |
| Passed Away | October 4, 2010 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | October 8, 2010 |
| Service Time | 11:00 AM |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church |
VINCENT R. “DOTY” DeGAETANO
HORNELL-Vincent R. “Doty” DeGaetano, 81, passed away Monday evening (Oct. 4, 2010) at his home at 206 Greeley Ave.
Born in Hornell on Feb. 13, 1929, he was a son of the late Frank and Catherine Surra DeGaetano. On May 30, 1953, he was married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell to the former Stella Spiwak, who predeceased him on Aug. 14, 2010, after 57 years of marriage. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his brothers Mateo and Matthew DeGaetano and his three sisters, Vincena Dodd, Yolanda Weidman and Domenica “Dee” Bridge.
A native and life long resident of Hornell, Doty attended St. Ann’s School and graduated from Hornell High School with the class of 1947. From 1950 to his honorable discharge 1952 he served in England with the U.S. Army.
In 1920 his father, Frank established DeGaetano Shoe Repair in Hornell and Doty, along with his brother, Matthew, joined their father in the business in 1950 when it was located on Seneca Street. Since 1976 he was in partnership in business with his wife, Stella, operating DeGaetano Family Shoe Store & Repair on Main Street where the business has been located since 1977. They also owned and operated stores located in both Bath and Bradford, Pa. Doty will be remembered for being a skilled craftsman for 60 years in a lost art.
He was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell, a past president and a member of the Hornell Area Chamber of Commerce for 30 years, a member of the G. Carducci Lodge, Sons of Italy, the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440, the Hornell Moose Lodge No. 210, the Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of Columbus and the Hornell High School Alumni Assoc.
Doty was well known for his roller skating dancing skills and at one time managed the roller skating rink in the Federation Building on Broadway in Hornell. Besides being an avid bowler and participating in several leagues, he also enjoyed watching N.Y. Yankee games with his family and following Red Raider football.
His family includes his daughter, Debra (John) Jaun of Rochester; his son, Michael (Sherry) DeGaetano of Hornell; his five grandchildren, Christopher and Sara Jaun, Zachary, Colby and Nikolas DeGaetano; his four sisters, Mary Daniels of Rochester (formerly of Hornell), Julie Delaney, Frances (James) Crain and Ann Marie (Donald) Potter all of Hornell; his sister-in-law, Helen (Paul) Spencer of Almond and his brother-in-law, Walter Spiwak of St. Augustine, Fla.; also his many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours are from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet his family at St. Ann’s Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to the Hornell High School Alumni Assoc., P.O. Box 135, Hornell, N.Y. 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Debbie and family, So sorry to hear of your parents passing. What nice people they were. I know, for sure, that they will be catching up with many good friends at Heaven’s Gate.!!
Doty was a wonderful man. He took such good care of his family and was a steward to his community. Doty was always a friend to me and very much a father at times. I will always remember his words of wisdom to me while growing up. It was great to be part of the extended DeGaetano family. I am glad that Doty and Stella are together again.
My deepest sympathy goes out to the DeGaetano family in the loss of “Doty”. What a wonderful man! So sweet, so gentle, so giving, so positive, so honest, so kind and so loving. I will always cherish the hugs he has given me over the years and the wonderful care he gave Stell in her years of need. He will be in my prayers forever and will be sadly missed.