Ferdinando "Fred" Sgroi

Ferdinando "Fred" Sgroi, 84, of Tillson, New York, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. He was born on September 8, 1933 in Castiglione di Sicilia, Italy to the late Salvatore Sgroi and Rosaria (DiBella) Sgroi.

Fred was a certified graduate of "Scuola Per La Moda VALENTI" (Fashion Design School) in Milano, Italy and worked as a women's dress designer.

He emigrated from Milan, Italy, to Kingston, NY, in 1964. He soon began his career as a tailor at Rafalowsky's Men's Store and later brought his skills to Sears Roebuck & Co. where he worked for 25 years and retired. He then returned to Rafalowsky's as their Master Tailor leading the tailoring team, working until his final retirement in 1995. An accomplished woodworker, Fred also enjoyed fishing, playing chess, and mostly spending time with his granddaughters.

Fred is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lucy Sgroi; his daughter, Tania Costello and her husband Mike; his granddaughters, Jadyn, Shayla, and Ashly Costello; his sisters in Italy, Adele Sgroi, Amelia (Sgroi) Randazzo and her husband Vincenzo, Genoveffa (Sgroi) Liuzzo and her husband Antonino, and Elvira (Sgroi) Rinaudo and her husband Antonio; his sister-in-law Jacqueline Cachard of Hasselt, Belgium; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents he is predeceased by his brother Antonino Sgroi and his sister Maria (Sgroi) Tropea and her husband Antonino Tropea.

Entrusted to the care of Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Ave, Kingston, NY 12401, where family and friends may visit on Sunday June 3, 2018 from 2pm to 5pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Monday June 4, 2018 at St. Joseph's Church, 242 Wall St., Kingston, NY 12401. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Kingston.

To leave an expression of sympathy, please visit www.KeyserFuneralService.com . Memorial donations may be made in support to The Faustman Lab's research for a Type 1 Diabetes Cure at www.faustmanlab.org .