Louis Coletto: lovingly raised by Amityville Village

Louis Coletto Longtime Amityville resident Louis Coletto died Feb. 19, 2009 in Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. He was 56 years old.

He was born Feb. 11, 1953 to Madeline L. (Evento) and Albert J. , the youngest of four children, he grew up on Bayview Avenue. He attended special-needs programs until he was 21, followed by a career at the AHRC Workshop in Bohemia.

According to his family, he took great pleasure in riding his bike visiting with people around the village and loved cheering for the Amityville High School football team.

"Amityville was a loving town to Louie," said his sister Katherine of Poland, Ohio. "They kind of adopted him. In fact, during high school football games, he got to sit on the players' bench and lead their halftime cheers. Coach Len Mattera let him ride the bus with the cheerleaders to away games...we always appreciated how much they loved him."

Mr. Coletto, who loved baseball, football and hockey, was named an honorary fireman by the Amityville Fire Department. For the last 14 years, he lived at an Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC) residence in Bohemia.

In addition to his sister, Mr. Coletto also leaves behind his siblings: Albert and his wife Janet of Smithtown, New York, and Nicholas and his wife Carol of Nassau, New York. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

A prayer service was held at the Powell Funeral Home, Amityville, on Feb. 22, 2009. A Funeral Mass was held at St. Martin of Tours R.C. Church, Amityville, on Feb. 23, 2009. Interment followed at Amityville Cemetery.

Donations in his name can be made to AHRC Suffolk County Chapter, 2900 Veteran's Memorial Highway, Bohemia, New York 11716.