Mr. Vincent J. Looney

October 10, 1935 - December 17, 2020

UTICA - Mr. Vincent J. Looney, age 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 17, 2020 with his wife by his side at Valley Health Services in Herkimer. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on October 10, 1935, Vincent was the son of the late Vincent and Mary Frances (Burke) Looney. He was proud of his education at the Boston Latin School which was established in 1635 and is renowned as the oldest public school in America! He then went on to graduate from the highly selective Boston College. Vin’s next venture was to be commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy in 1957 after graduating from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He served two years on active duty on board the USS Hood (DD-655). Upon completion of his military service, Vincent worked at Utica National Insurance until 1996 serving as Senior Vice President. On January 9, 1998 he married the former Mary Ann Mazzola with whom he shared 22 years as a blended family celebrating holidays, graduations, birthdays, weddings, and traveling together. Although he was quiet by nature, Vin was firm, loving, and just. Working around his property was his greatest delight, and the neighborhood will miss his raking, cutting and manicuring the grass and hedges to perfection. He welcomed the conversations and compliments of all the passersby. He was Irish with an Italian stomach and he enjoyed the Sunday pasta dinners and meals with Jean and Jack Endryck. His preferred pastimes including reading, golfing at the Yahnundasis and Skenandoa Golf Clubs, and watching and rooting for Tom Brady, the New England Patriots, and of course, the Boston Red Sox. Family was a cherished part of his life. Upon his marriage to Mary Ann he became a brother-in-law and uncle to the Mazzola family, and the Caroli, Endryck, Polak, Bizzari, and Johnson families who loved him with their whole hearts. He made many friends at work, in school, and in the navy. Vin loved Dorchester, Massachusetts where he was born and frequently visited his cousins, specifically Ursala and the late Larry Tafe of Cape Cod. He was blessed with four children from his former wife Carol; Vincent and Patricia (Muldowney) Looney, Kara and Eliot Putnam, Douglas and Lisa (Patten) Looney, and John and Megan (Mondi) Looney; he was proud of each and every one of them. He adored his grandchildren, Shaun and Michele (Smith) Looney and his only great-grandchild Emilia, Brian and Samantha (Bova) Looney, Kevin Looney, Finn Putnam, Caroline Putnam, Katherine Putnam, Adian Looney, Nora Looney, Maeve Looney, Jack Looney, Andrew Looney, and Joseph Looney. He also leaves his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and his brother, Bill Looney. He was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Marian and John “Brendan” Cahalane. Many thanks to Vincent’s caregivers, Joanne Monescalscki, the staff at MVHS at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, especially Dr. Andrea Johnson, and the staff at Valley Health Services particularly Peter Bizzari Jr. and Nicole Conkling for their special care in his last days. Vincent’s family is so grateful to all who tended to him. Relatives and friends are respectively invited to attend Vincent’s Memorial Mass of Christian Burial which will commence on Tuesday, December 29th at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. Those planning to attend Mass are asked to arrive earlier to accommodate social distancing and registration for contact tracing. Also, a mask covering your nose and mouth will be required. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Vin’s name may be directed to Valley Health Services, Inc., 690 W. German St., Herkimer, NY 13350 or online at www.bassett.org. Inurnment will take place in Christ Our Savior Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery at the convenience of the family. During this time of social distancing that we are all experiencing, please take a moment to connect with Vincent’s family through the “Memories” section of his obituary. Our prayers go out to all as a sign of our continued support