In Loving Memory of Sonny Vittone .....
Emerson Edward "Sonny" Vittone
1943 - 2011
Port St Lucie, FL -- Emerson E. "Sonny" Vittone, 68, of Port St. Lucie, FL, died Sunday, September 11, after a courageous and hard-fought, two year battle with cancer.
He passed away in the serene and peaceful atmosphere at the Treasure Coast Hospice House in Fort Pierce, FL with his family by his side.
Born in Pittsfield on February 10, 1943, son of the late Ettore “Eddie” and Stacia (Golka) Vittone, He was a 1961 graduate of St. Joseph High School in North Adams. He grew up in the town of Adams, where he lived until moving to Pittsfield in 1966. He was a resident of Pittsfield, MA. until moving to Port St. Lucie, FL in 1995.
Upon graduating from St. Joseph High School, Sonny attended Wentworth Institute in Boston for a year, before accepting a job as a machinist at Hamilton Standard in Connecticut.
For more than 25 years, Sonny was employed by General Electric, as an electro-mechanical draftsman-designer at General Electric Power Transformer and for Naval Ordnance in Pittsfield, before retiring with the Lockheed Martin and Martin Marietta Corporation in 1994.
He was a communicant of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Adams.
Sonny was the consummate athlete and sports enthusiast.
While attending St. Joseph High School, Sonny was a standout basketball player on the varsity team, prompting local radio broadcasters to compare his style of play to Boston Celtics Legend and Hall of Famer, Bob Cousy, for his lightning-quick speed and tremendous basketball I.Q.
He also played Semi-Pro basketball for a handful of teams in Berkshire Country including the Lenox Merchants and Adams Merchants, of which, he was a founding member.
Sonny also played in numerous All-Star basketball tournaments, during the 1960’s, where he often played against and guarded, Schenectady, NY native and NBA Hall of Fame Coaching legend, Pat Riley.
Sonny spent time as a high school basketball commentator for WBRK Radio and as the Public Address Announcer for the Pittsfield Shamrocks.
Sonny was well known for his many years serving as a football and basketball official/referee for both high school and college games throughout Berkshire County and Western Massachusetts.
An avid softball player, he played for several leagues in his native, Berkshire County before retiring to South Florida, where he played in Senior Softball leagues in the Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach areas, until February of 2011.
When Sonny wasn’t playing or refereeing sports, he was watching them in person or on television, where he very rarely missed a game involving his beloved New York Yankees and New York Giants.
Music was also a big part of Sonny's life. His father, Eddie, who played in several family bands including the Pete Vittone Orchestra and Rhythm Kings, taught him to play the trumpet at a very young age and when he was old enough, he joined his father , as a member of the Eagles Band.
He enjoyed social gatherings and organized the Vittone family reunions for many years.
In addition to taking numerous Caribbean cruises with his wife Kathy, the real joy of his life were his RV motorhomes. Touring in them, he was able to visit 48 states with his adoring wife by his side.
In early 2011, Sonny bought his dream RV for the sole purpose of driving to his native Berkshire County, to attend the St. Joseph High School North Adams, Class of 1961, 50th Reunion. He scheduled his chemotherapy treatments between Port St. Lucie and Pittsfield, and although weakened and exhausted, he was able to attend the three day celebration, which took place in July, in North Adams.
Emerson is survived by his loving wife and tender care giver, of 31 years, Kathleen Vittone (the former Kathleen Sayers) , and his son Aaron Vittone of Port St. Lucie, FL, his sister Joan Kurpaska and her husband Anthony of Cheshire, nephew Jeffrey Kurpaska of Williamstown, niece Robin Butler of Franklin, MA., grand nieces Ashley and Alexandra Butler of Franklin,MA and Heidi Kurpaska of Williamstown Ma, and step children Patricia McClintock of Irvine, CA and Carlton Moore of Pittsfield , step grandchildren Stone and Autumn McClintock and Paytin Duquette, and many cousins within the Vittone and Golka families.
Donations in Emerson E. Vittone's name may be made to the St. Lucie Hospice House, 5090 Dunn Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34981.
This web site was created by Carlton Moore in honor of his loving stepfather, Sonny Vittone.