OBITUARY Amedeo A. Fantini February 11, 1922 – December 20, 2018 Amedeo (Al) Fantini, age 96, died peacefully on December 20, 2018 at his home in New City , NY. Amedeo, known to all as Al, was born in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, on February 11, 1922. At age 6, he and his parents returned to their home in Cerea, Italy.
As a teen, Al attended The Christian Brothers School in Turin, during which time WWII broke out. He returned to New York to served in the U.S. military. Al served in the Army’s 75th Amphibious Division in the Pacific Theatre.
He would tell a fantastic story of meeting up with his cousin, Albert, on the remote island of Tinian after receiving word from his aunt indicating Albert’s whereabouts. After the war he returned to New York City and attended New York University on the G.I. Bill to earn his bachelor’s degree. During his studies, he worked for Pfizer (Brooklyn, NY) where he met his future wife, Jean McNierney, marrying in 1954.
Amedeo was awarded his Ph. D in microbiology from Columbia University in 1961. Al had a 34-year long career as a research scientist for Lederle Laboratories (Pearl River, NY) where he published many journal articles, book chapters and was named inventor on several patents.
His most noteworthy program determined the structure and function of calicheamicin, an antibiotic with anti-tumor properties. Al was an active member of the Society for Industrial Microbiology. Al enjoyed both fishing and target shooting.
He attended the national rifle matches (Camp Perry, OH) and earned the rank of marksman first class. He was member of the Rockland Rifle Club, and mentored many young shooters in the sport resulting in lifelong friendships. Al was a serious man, however he had a colorful sense of humor, for many years entertaining family and friends with his yearly anti-holiday newsletters which detailed trips to the doctor as if they were visits to exotic lands.
Dr. Fantini is survived by his wife, Jean; and children, Helen Fantini (spouse, Josh Abrams) of South Hadley, MA; David Fantini, of St. Charles, MO, and Susan Witko (spouse, Tyler Witko) of New City, as well as five grandchildren: Jonah, Theodore and Owen Abrams, and Mason and Cole Witko. Visitation will be held at the Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home, 321 S. Main Street, New City, December 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Mass at St. Augustine’s Church, 114 S. Main Street, New City, December 24 at 10:00 am immediately followed by burial at the Frederick W. Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery, at 220 Brick Church Rd, Spring Valley, NY.
Memorial donations may be made to United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY 10956.
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