QUEESNBURY -- Finally, his often asked question has been answered. Leonard Avona died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015. He hoped to pass the 93 years his mother lived, and did - now, 96, then on to reach 100 years of age he often talked about with a smile, but...

Leonard Avona, the son of Thomas and Dorothea (Catanzaro) Avona was born Feb. 17, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York.

At two, his family moved from Brooklyn to Shelter Island, N.Y. where he grew up and attended school. His love of mechanics goes back to that time. He built his own motorcycle, rebuilt old cars, and helped a friend work on his airplane.

Fishing, a tree surgeon, and working as a gardener for the large estates on Shelter Island were jobs he worked at on this small resort island.

He joined the Army Air Corps in June, 1942, was trained as an airplane mechanic, then went to England as a crew chief and worked on B-24's during WWII. After three years in England, he returned to the U.S. in Sept., 1945. While there, he kept two small diaries of planes, acting as a crew-chief, taking off to bomb Germany, and returning the damaged ones to home base, some on a wing and a prayer. These diaries and other memorabilia have been donated to the Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.

At Roosevelt Field on Long Island, he went to school for his A&E licenses. After working at Lockheed on Long Island for a while, he then joined the N.Y. Air National Guard to work full time as a crew chief on B-26's, on the C-130's and other planes based at Floyd Bennett Field at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. Also, when their NYANG unit moved to Westhampton, Long Island, he continued to work there until he retired as a Chief Master Sergeant July 21, 1978 at age 60, after 35 years of dedicated service. He always spoke with pride of his time in the military.

He received several Presidential Citations for Bravery during his long career. His outfit had been re-activated twice; first for the Korean War in 1951 and 1952, then for a short period when the US Postal Service went on strike.

While in NYANG he participated in the Rifle and Golf tournaments during their two weeks summer maneuvers in different states.

In 1946, he met his wartime pen pal Phyllis Buccino who were later married in Montreal, Quebec on Sept. 30, 1947. They lived in Ronkonkoma then moved to Levittown in Jan., 1948. Thirty years later they moved Upstate to Lake Sacandaga and finally to Queensbury in Oct., 1984. After moving Upstate, he belonged to the Lake Luzerne American Legion and Lake Luzerne Lions, where he was a very active member for many years and received commendations and awards.

His hobbies were remodeling the homes he lived in; his cars were always in perfect running condition. Big or small, there was no job he couldn't do.

He was a good father and husband, hardworking, conservative, quiet and loved rough-housing with his children and foster children after supper.

In later years, he loved to hike, golf, snowshoe, bowl, and cross-country ski. At age 74, he joined the Glens Falls Senior Ice Hockey Team where he was interviewed as the oldest registered hockey player in the US. He continued to play hockey until he was 85.

His life changed drastically one Friday morning. He suffered a stroke after finishing a bowling game with his team, taking away most of his past, and, especially two years later after he had a fall at an Assisted Living Residence.
His parents, brothers, and sisters all predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Buccino) Avona; his four children, Jeanne A. Payne of Wilmington, N.C., Jack L. and Laurie Avona of Kings Park, N.Y., Lori A. Jones of Trumbull, CT., Michael D. and Angela Avona of Kyle, TX.; six grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces.

At Leonard's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral services.

Burial, with military honors, will be held on Monday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville.

His cremains will be added to the Columbarium Wall at the National Cemetery following the military service.

Donations, in Leonard's memory, may be given to the Glens Falls Senior Center, 380 Glen St., Glens Falls, NY 12801.

Condolences may be mailed to Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or e-mailed through www.bakerfuneralhome.com