Villa Lesko celebrates Labor Day with Kelly Pantano, 99 years young
A crowd of over 50 guests of family and friends celebrated Labor Day, Sunday, Sept. 1, at the home of Charles and Roseann (Pantano) Lesko in the Richmondtown section of Staten Island.
It was a perfect way to rejoice in the 99th birthday of their much-loved Uncle Cologero (Kelly) Pantano. Kelly, who resides with his daughters in Bay Ridge, was a founder and organizer of the Shoe Salesman’s Union and owned a shoe store in both Brooklyn and Staten Island for many decades.
Kelly’s daughters Valerie and Veronica and son-in-law Anthony Panebianco (Butch) accompanied Kelly to his special table which was decorated with many colorful balloons. Kelly’s beloved wife Kitty passed away several years ago. Kelly’s brother Phillip was the owner/manager of the Hollywood, Cotillion, Imperial and Embassy Terraces in Brooklyn. Uncle Phil, who was a World War II veteran and will be 96 in October, sat at Kelly’s side, with longtime friend and neighbor George Orlando, who was thrilled to be reunited with Phil and Kelly.
In World War II, Kelly rendered valuable service in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and vividly recalled a visit by the ailing FDR in 1944 in his final presidential campaign. When he was but a boy, Kelly sold copies of The New York-Brooklyn Times in a contest, beating every youngster in NYC and winning a bicycle and meeting with other “Newsies” with President Coolidge in Washington, D.C. The family sold the bicycle to keep financially afloat. As a young adult and active union member, he was “arrested” countless times for picketing on behalf of shoe salesmen!