FABRIZIO, Louis J., 87, of Seminole, passed away Friday, Oct. 5, with loving family members at his side.
Born Luigi Anellio Fabrizio in Manhattan, New York on Aug. 25, 1931, "Lou" grew up in a large family in Italian sections of East Harlem and the Bronx. He left high school to enlist in the U.S. Navy and served at sea during the Korean War, accumulating experiences he would talk about for the rest of his life. Following his discharge, Lou joined family members who had departed New York's cold winters for sunny St. Petersburg. There, he met Florence "Flo" Conway at a Catholic Club dance, and the two raised six children during a 28-year marriage. Lou worked for the GE Pinellas Plant's Neutron Device Department in Largo for decades and often went for runs around the property's perimeter during his lunch breaks. He was devoted to his faith, never missing Mass until taking sick. He loved the New York Yankees, Notre Dame football, old movies, Fox News and singing Karaoke on his home machine or with son Dion playing guitar. He took pride in his handiwork with stone and tile and his ability to fix almost anything, and one of his finest talents was drawing cartoons, which he often added to the back of birthday card envelopes. But most of all, he cherished having his big family around for any special occasion.
Lou is preceded in death by his brother and lifelong close friend, Vincent Fabrizio, and his parents, Elvira and Felix.
He is survived by children Tony Fabrizio, Mark (Laura) Fabrizio, Christine Glass, Gary Fabrizio, Dion (Wendy) Fabrizio, and Amber (Daniel) Tidwell; grandchildren Tanner Tidwell, Javey (Callie) Glass, Travis (Jaclyn) Fabrizio, Tatum (Daniel) Bueller, Erin Fabrizio, Connor Tidwell, Garrett Glass, Carly Tidwell, Nick Fabrizio, Zachary Glass, Alessia Fabrizio, Dominic Fabrizio, Caleb Fabrizio and Zadok Fabrizio; and great-grandchildren Hayden, Luke, Naomi and Jude. Also surviving are brothers Anthony and Ronnie (Carol) and sisters Sally Tamburrino, Faye Scaglione and Madeline Breen-Liberator (Ed Liberator).
Family and friends are calling from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Mohn Funeral Home, 9700 Seminole Boulevard, Seminole.
Funeral Services are at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St Jerome Catholic Church, 10895 Hamlin Blvd., Largo. Entombment will follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clearwater.