Louis P. Fusco died March 20, 2004 at his home in Salinas after
a brief illness due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Louis P. Fusco died March 20, 2004 at his home in Salinas after a brief illness due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Louis was born Jan. 11, 1923 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. He was a long-time resident of Hollister, where he farmed apricots with his father Steve, before moving to the Salinas area, where he lived for more than 34 years.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and worked in the civil services as a warehouse supervisor for more than 21 years at Ford Ord. After his retirement, he worked at Sbarro’s Italian Restaurant at the Northridge Mall in Salinas, where he dedicated himself to making people smile. He loved to sing, dance and give a friendly greeting to the restaurant patrons during the 1980s. He also played Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Talking Tree for years at the mall. He was a past member of the Calvary Baptist in Hollister and Marina, where he served as a Sunday School teacher.
He is survived by his wife Ruby Fusco of Salinas, along with Steven and wife Angie Fusco, Richard and wife Michelle Fusco and Mario and wife Joanie Paonessa, all of Salinas. He is also survived by grandchildren Anthony, Jennifer, Katie and Nicholas, and great-grandchildren Isabella, Manny, Aliyah, C.J., Michael Giovanni and Sydney.
Services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Garden of Memories Cemetery Chapel in Salinas.
Donations can be made to the Hospice of the Central Coast or the Parkinson’s Research Foundation.
