Obituary of Dr. Arthur Anzalone

Cavaliere Ufficiale, Dr. Arthur Anzalone

Penfield - January 7, 1932- May 2, 2019.

Dr. Arthur Anzalone joins his parents, Vincenza and Alfonso, siblings Sina, Salvatore, Vito, Alfredo and Ottavio, and his wife, Aurora, in eternal life.

Arthur was the fifth of eight children, born in San Giuseppe Iato, a small village outside of Palermo, Sicily.  Like all sons in his family, he attended the Don Bosco Institute of Palermo, a boarding school where he learned the Roman Catholic faith, the importance of education, discipline, tenacity, tolerance, patience, and impeccable neatness—all qualities he carried throughout his life. He graduated from high school in 1951, he earned a law degree from the University of Palermo in 1957 and served in the Italian military where he reached the rank of captain.  His spirit of adventure brought him to the United States in 1960.   Like many Italian immigrants, Arthur arrived on American soil with a many dreams and little means.  With ambition, hard work and sacrifice, he became a business owner when he opened Empire International Travel Agency in 1968.  The same year, he was appointed consular agent by the Italian government. Arthur was promoted to Vice Consul of Italy in 1973, a position he held until 2002.  In these appointed roles based in Rochester, he served Italian Americans in 16 counties by providing legal services, protecting the rights of Italian citizens, representing the Italian government in public events and services, offering translation services, and many more duties.

In 1969, he married the love of his life, Aurora (nee Greco).  Late nights were common, as Arthur was actively involved in several Rochester Italian American organizations, attending meetings, fundraising dinners and galas, often after a full day at his office.  For many years, his Sunday mornings were spent co-hosting "Panorama Italiano", a radio show with Italian news, commentary and music.  In 1978, he and Aurora invested their savings in a historic mansion on East Avenue, which eventually became the flourishing Anzalone Properties, a real estate business comprised of 32 luxury apartments. He was honored by the President of Italy when he was knighted "Cavaliere Ufficiale" of the Republic of Italy in 1987. In the final working years of his life, he served the Italian Consul General in Miami, caring for the legal needs of Italian Americans in Florida.

Arthur and Aurora raised their daughter, Patrizia Corvaia, and son, United States Marine Corp Capt. Arthur David Anzalone, with the values of their Italian heritage: a love of family, an unwavering faith, a determination to not fail, and the willingness to work hard.  Arthur shared his joy of travel with his family through annual trips to Italy and tropical vacations in the winter.

In his final years, he fought several serious and at times painful health conditions with courage and determination. Through numerous trips to the hospital, rigorous therapy and difficult treatments, he hardly ever complained.  He was cared for with respect and kindness by the staff at Atria Penfield, especially Galina. His lifelong love of anything Italian, politics, advocacy, witty commentary, daily reading and clipping of newspaper articles (if he could he would clip this), physical fitness, colorful birds and flowers, watching compelling movies, fine dining, drinking good wine and conversations with his beloved sister, Enza, remained until his final days. He was always perfectly groomed with a splash of Fendi cologne. Arthur is greatly missed by his children, Patrizia Corvaia and Arthur David (Angela), grandchildren Gabriel Attolini, Jessica Attolini, Anna Bartucca, AJ Bartucca and Renee Knight, sister Enza (Dino) Mazzara, brother Fr. Giuseppe Anzalone and several nieces, nephews and cousins in Connecticut and Italy.

A private service will be held at a later time.  To honor his memory, please consider volunteering or making a donation to the Mary Cariola Children's Center.