Richard J. Pucine

Mr. Richard J. Pucine, age 59, of Utica, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 20, 2006, at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Born in Utica on June 10, 1946, Richard was the son of the late Frank A. "Pussy" and Theresa (Nole) Pucine. Raised and educated locally, he was a graduate of T.R. Proctor High School. He pursued his academic career with 4 years of collegiate study at SUNYIT. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served in the U.S. Air Force. On August 21, 1976, he married the former Rita Sacco with whom he has shared a union of almost 30 years. Throughout all their time together, Richard and Rita have always been "best friends" to one another. For more than 20 years, Mr. Pucine has been employed as an auditor for the National Credit Union Administration. He was a communicant of St. Agnes Church. As a devoted husband and father, Richard considered his loved ones and his family life to be the center of his existence and his foremost priority. Gifted with many special and unique qualities of character, he prided himself on his individuality. His preferred leisure activities included fishing, especially at favorite places along the Black River, and also hunting. He loved to cook and often prepared his special sauce and meatballs. Mr. Pucine is survived by his wife, Rita; and his son, Richard A. Pucine of Utica. His survivors also include a sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Anthony Falvo of Utica; two brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Merinda Pucine of Liverpool, and Angelo and Vanessa Pucine of Utica; his nieces and nephews, including Theresa Malek and her husband, Jan, and Justin Valenta; his great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins; and his in-laws, Nicholas Abdou of New Hartford, Alta and Will Brown of CT, Elizabeth and Albert Chanatry of Utica, Mary Hartnett of CT, Philip and Wendy Sacco of New Hartford, and Jerome and Jacquie Sacco of FL. Richard also leaves his good friends, Cons D'Argenio and Jorge Maldonado. He was predeceased by two brothers, William Francis who passed away as an infant in 1926, and Francis who passed away in 1979; and a sister, Mary Abdou. The family offers its sincere thanks to the nurses and staff of the ER at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center, especially Kevin Lamphere, for the care and attention shown to Richard and his family. Visitation will be held today (Sunday) from 2-5 at the Eannance Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. Please omit floral offerings. Mr. Pucine's funeral will commence on Monday morning at 8:30 from the funeral home and at 9:30 at St. Agnes Church, where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Military Honors. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Richard J. Pucine

June 10, 1946 - April 20, 2006