William Bruce Fuccillo, Sr. "Billy" June 17, 2021 William Bruce Fuccillo, Sr. "Billy", 65, passed away peacefully at home in Sarasota, Florida on June 17, 2021. Billy was born in Greenport, NY, and graduated from Greenport High School as the only All-American football player to come out of Greenport High. He went on to graduate from Syracuse University where he played tight end from 1974 – 1978. Billy was the President & CEO of the Fuccillo Automotive Group, the largest privately held automotive retailer in New York State and the largest Kia dealer in the world. His many accolades include selling 2,020 vehicles in one month at Fuccillo Hyundai of Syracuse, and 500 vehicles in one day at the Fuccillo AutoMall; Billy holds the record for both Hyundai's and Kia's sold in one month. Billy was very charitable and contributed to many different organizations over the years, including Domestic Violence Organizations, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Salvation Army, Assumption Food Pantry, Center for Disability Services, along with countless other causes. Billy enjoyed golfing, good food and wine, watching all sports, especially football, and was a Thoroughbred Owner. Billy is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia (Karaffa) Fuccillo of Skaneateles; his son, William Bruce Fuccillo, Jr. of Miami Beach, FL; his parents, Vito and Joan (Bollman) Fuccillo; a sister, Joanie Fuccillo and brother, Gary Fuccillo, all of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; his nieces, Patricia Pietsch, Catherine Elizabeth Fuccillo and his beloved pet, Rudy. A Funeral Mass in celebration of Billy's life will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, June 25, 2021, at Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church, 301 Ash St., Syracuse, NY. Private entombment will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. Family and friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (Corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Billy's name may be made to Sisters of St. Francis, 960 James St., Syracuse, NY 13203, Assumption Food Pantry, ATTN: Mission Advancement Office, Assumption Church, 812 North Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13208 or Ronald McDonald House, 1100 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210. WORDS OF COMFORT MAY BE EXPRESSED AT TJPFUNERALHOME.COM
Fuccillo grew up on Long Island and went to Syracuse University in 1974 on a football scholarship, where he was jersey # 83, a tight end. In 1984 he got engaged and then married to Cynthia "Cindy" Karaffa of Syracuse, NY. Together they had a son, William B. Fuccillo, Jr.
After graduation, he took a job as a used car salesman, working for Sam Dell and Bill Rapp. He moved into car wholesaling, then opened Fuccillo Autobrokers, Inc., selling used cars from a lot on West Genesee Street. He bought his first wholesale car business in 1981 and his first new store in Adams, just south of Watertown, in 1989, according to the report.
Also a philanthropist, Fuccillo was best known for his radio and television ads in which he boasted his catchphrase, "It's gonna be huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge." He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida, according to The Post-Standard's archives. In 1991, the Billy ads exploded across Central New York. Fuccillo is best known for his frequent television ads, touting "Y-U-U-G-ah" deals on vehicles.
It became a Syracuse catch-phrase. People stopped him for autographs and photos and asked him to say the words. "When I'm doing what I'm doing, I feel like I'm on stage," he said in a 1996 profile in The Post-Standard. Fuccillo was a real showman.
He once hired daredevil stunt man Robbie Knievel to fly his motorcycle over 26 cars at Fuccillo's dealership in the Jefferson County town Adams to promote a sale. Friend and fellow auto dealer Michael J. Romano described Fuccillo as smart, hardworking and "classy as classy can be."
Fuccillo had to advertise heavily when he started out to attract customers from Syracuse and Utica to buy cars from him in Adams. "He got a lot of people up there and it made him a successful guy," said Romano, an owner of Romano Auto Dealerships.
He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida
Fuccillo grew up on Long Island and went to Syracuse University in 1974 on a football scholarship, where he was jersey # 83, a tight end. In 1984 he got engaged and then married to Cynthia "Cindy" Karaffa of Syracuse, NY. Together they had a son, William B. Fuccillo, Jr.
After graduation, he took a job as a used car salesman, working for Sam Dell and Bill Rapp. He moved into car wholesaling, then opened Fuccillo Autobrokers, Inc., selling used cars from a lot on West Genesee Street. He bought his first wholesale car business in 1981 and his first new store in Adams, just south of Watertown, in 1989, according to the report.
Also a philanthropist, Fuccillo was best known for his radio and television ads in which he boasted his catchphrase, "It's gonna be huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge." He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida, according to The Post-Standard's archives. In 1991, the Billy ads exploded across Central New York. Fuccillo is best known for his frequent television ads, touting "Y-U-U-G-ah" deals on vehicles.
It became a Syracuse catch-phrase. People stopped him for autographs and photos and asked him to say the words. "When I'm doing what I'm doing, I feel like I'm on stage," he said in a 1996 profile in The Post-Standard. Fuccillo was a real showman.
He once hired daredevil stunt man Robbie Knievel to fly his motorcycle over 26 cars at Fuccillo's dealership in the Jefferson County town Adams to promote a sale. Friend and fellow auto dealer Michael J. Romano described Fuccillo as smart, hardworking and "classy as classy can be."
Fuccillo had to advertise heavily when he started out to attract customers from Syracuse and Utica to buy cars from him in Adams. "He got a lot of people up there and it made him a successful guy," said Romano, an owner of Romano Auto Dealerships.
He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida
William Bruce Fuccillo, Sr. "Billy" June 17, 2021 William Bruce Fuccillo, Sr. "Billy", 65, passed away peacefully at home in Sarasota, Florida on June 17, 2021. Billy was born in Greenport, NY, and graduated from Greenport High School as the only All-American football player to come out of Greenport High. He went on to graduate from Syracuse University where he played tight end from 1974 – 1978. Billy was the President & CEO of the Fuccillo Automotive Group, the largest privately held automotive retailer in New York State and the largest Kia dealer in the world. His many accolades include selling 2,020 vehicles in one month at Fuccillo Hyundai of Syracuse, and 500 vehicles in one day at the Fuccillo AutoMall; Billy holds the record for both Hyundai's and Kia's sold in one month. Billy was very charitable and contributed to many different organizations over the years, including Domestic Violence Organizations, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Salvation Army, Assumption Food Pantry, Center for Disability Services, along with countless other causes. Billy enjoyed golfing, good food and wine, watching all sports, especially football, and was a Thoroughbred Owner. Billy is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia (Karaffa) Fuccillo of Skaneateles; his son, William Bruce Fuccillo, Jr. of Miami Beach, FL; his parents, Vito and Joan (Bollman) Fuccillo; a sister, Joanie Fuccillo and brother, Gary Fuccillo, all of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; his nieces, Patricia Pietsch, Catherine Elizabeth Fuccillo and his beloved pet, Rudy. A Funeral Mass in celebration of Billy's life will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, June 25, 2021, at Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church, 301 Ash St., Syracuse, NY. Private entombment will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. Family and friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (Corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Billy's name may be made to Sisters of St. Francis, 960 James St., Syracuse, NY 13203, Assumption Food Pantry, ATTN: Mission Advancement Office, Assumption Church, 812 North Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13208 or Ronald McDonald House, 1100 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210. WORDS OF COMFORT MAY BE EXPRESSED AT TJPFUNERALHOME.COM
Fuccillo grew up on Long Island and went to Syracuse University in 1974 on a football scholarship, where he was jersey # 83, a tight end. In 1984 he got engaged and then married to Cynthia "Cindy" Karaffa of Syracuse, NY. Together they had a son, William B. Fuccillo, Jr.
After graduation, he took a job as a used car salesman, working for Sam Dell and Bill Rapp. He moved into car wholesaling, then opened Fuccillo Autobrokers, Inc., selling used cars from a lot on West Genesee Street. He bought his first wholesale car business in 1981 and his first new store in Adams, just south of Watertown, in 1989, according to the report.
Also a philanthropist, Fuccillo was best known for his radio and television ads in which he boasted his catchphrase, "It's gonna be huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge." He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida, according to The Post-Standard's archives. In 1991, the Billy ads exploded across Central New York. Fuccillo is best known for his frequent television ads, touting "Y-U-U-G-ah" deals on vehicles.
It became a Syracuse catch-phrase. People stopped him for autographs and photos and asked him to say the words. "When I'm doing what I'm doing, I feel like I'm on stage," he said in a 1996 profile in The Post-Standard. Fuccillo was a real showman.
He once hired daredevil stunt man Robbie Knievel to fly his motorcycle over 26 cars at Fuccillo's dealership in the Jefferson County town Adams to promote a sale. Friend and fellow auto dealer Michael J. Romano described Fuccillo as smart, hardworking and "classy as classy can be."
Fuccillo had to advertise heavily when he started out to attract customers from Syracuse and Utica to buy cars from him in Adams. "He got a lot of people up there and it made him a successful guy," said Romano, an owner of Romano Auto Dealerships.
He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida
Fuccillo grew up on Long Island and went to Syracuse University in 1974 on a football scholarship, where he was jersey # 83, a tight end. In 1984 he got engaged and then married to Cynthia "Cindy" Karaffa of Syracuse, NY. Together they had a son, William B. Fuccillo, Jr.
After graduation, he took a job as a used car salesman, working for Sam Dell and Bill Rapp. He moved into car wholesaling, then opened Fuccillo Autobrokers, Inc., selling used cars from a lot on West Genesee Street. He bought his first wholesale car business in 1981 and his first new store in Adams, just south of Watertown, in 1989, according to the report.
Also a philanthropist, Fuccillo was best known for his radio and television ads in which he boasted his catchphrase, "It's gonna be huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge." He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida, according to The Post-Standard's archives. In 1991, the Billy ads exploded across Central New York. Fuccillo is best known for his frequent television ads, touting "Y-U-U-G-ah" deals on vehicles.
It became a Syracuse catch-phrase. People stopped him for autographs and photos and asked him to say the words. "When I'm doing what I'm doing, I feel like I'm on stage," he said in a 1996 profile in The Post-Standard. Fuccillo was a real showman.
He once hired daredevil stunt man Robbie Knievel to fly his motorcycle over 26 cars at Fuccillo's dealership in the Jefferson County town Adams to promote a sale. Friend and fellow auto dealer Michael J. Romano described Fuccillo as smart, hardworking and "classy as classy can be."
Fuccillo had to advertise heavily when he started out to attract customers from Syracuse and Utica to buy cars from him in Adams. "He got a lot of people up there and it made him a successful guy," said Romano, an owner of Romano Auto Dealerships.
He went on to head a 26-store car empire in New York and Florida
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