Michael J. Arcuri

Michael J. Arcuri 95, a resident of Allegro Senior Living Facility in Jupiter, FL died November 8, 2014. Born July 15, 1919 in Frackville, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Joseph Arcuri and Sarah Tamburelli Arcuri. He was the husband of Lila L. (Wiggins) Arcuri. Mr. and Mrs. Arcuri recently celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. Mr. Arcuri graduated from Frackville High School and enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1938. He served as 1st Sgt. 13th Fighter Squadron for the 53rd Fighter Group at Dale Mabry Army Airfield in Tallahassee, FL. The squadron was deployed to Panama after the attack on Pearl Harbor to protect the Panama Canal. During WWII, Mr. Arcuri attended Officer Candidate School in Fort Lee VI and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant where he was a Motor Officer for one of the first all Afro-American aviation truck companies (1933rd) at Mitchell Field, NY. The 1933rd Transportation Company was deployed to Manchester, England supplying bombs to all the B-17 bases. He achieved the ranks of 1st LT, Capt. and Major while serving with the Combat Support Wing of the 8th Air Force. During his 28 years in the Air Force, he served as personnel officer at the Pentagon in Washington DC, Anchorage AFB, Alaska, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts and Patrick AFB, FL where he retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1964 in Satellite Beach, FL. His military awards include the American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, American Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, AF Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, AF Longevity Service Ribbon with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Good Conduct Medal. He received his Bachelor Degree in Education from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL in 1964. Mr. Arcuri taught math and science at Spessard L. Holland Elementary School in Satellite Beach then was the Assistant Principle/Curriculum Coordinator at Croton Elementary School in Melbourne, FL. He retired from the Florida School System in 1986 after 22 years of service. Mr. Arcuri was a member of many veteran organizations. Mr. Arcuri’s main hobby was Coin and Stamp Collecting. He also learned to play the organ in retirement and enjoyed playing the organ for many years. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Patricia Arcuri Stakes, brothers Lewis Arcuri, Joseph Arcuri, Anthony Arcuri and his sister Rose Arcuri. He is survived by his loving wife Lila; his daughter Sherry Arcuri Rekoon and her husband Richard of Mt. View, CA; four sons, Michael J. Arcuri, Jr. of Brighton, TN, William Y. Arcuri and his wife Andrea of Jupiter, FL, Stephen Arcuri and his wife Janet of Jupiter, FL and Philip R. Arcuri of Tallahassee, FL; a sister Marie Koval of Mahanoy City, PA; six grandchildren, Karl W. Arcuri (Gitanjali), Lee M. Arcuri (Graham), Rachele Stakes Pla (Carlos), Jacob M. Rekoon, Anthony M. Arcuri and Gianna L. Arcuri; 4 great grandchildren, Isabella M. Pla, Joseph R. Pla, Alexandrea S. Pla and Akash A. Arcuri. A visitation will be held on Friday, November 14th from 1-3 PM with services to begin at 3 PM, Aycock-Riverside Funeral and Cremation Center, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL. Burial will be on Saturday, November 15th at 1 PM, Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, FL.