Nicholas Anthony Purchia, a Newburgh Resident, Dies at 90
Nicholas Anthony Purchia, 90, entered into rest on Monday, March 12, 2018. The son of the late Pasqualino “Patsy” and Catherine (Alisandrelli) Purchia, he was born September 5, 1927 in Newburgh.
Nicholas was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many. He always lit up when his grandchildren and great-grandchild were around. Nicholas was a very talented man, from musician, artist, carpenter, builder, mechanic, inventor, soldier, you name it our dad could do it. He was our hero, the man who made everything right when something went wrong.
Nicholas left high school in 1943 to become a sewing machine mechanic during the war years. He worked for handbag companies and in several factories that made coats, dresses, undergarments, and aviator jackets for war work. Dad made cutting dies and heat sealing dies for handbag factories in Newburgh. He worked for Regal Bag as maintenance supervisor for many years. Before that he was a manager of Smith Glass Company, where they made the glass bubbling candles on the Christmas tree light bulbs. He was also Plant Manager of Classic Case in Middletown, NY where he manufactured and designed eyeglass cases. He left there to work at West Point and helped organize the best self-help center for Army personnel on post. Nicholas’s father played trumpet with DeAugustinos Symphonic Marching Band. By age 6 Nicholas learned to play the trumpet. He played in the South Jr. High Orchestra, Newburgh Free Academy Band and Sacred Heart Band. He loved his music and passed his talent and love for music on to his children and grandchildren. In 1947 he stopped playing the trumpet and bought a new string big bass. He took lessons from Professor Ortone and started playing with local dance bands. He played with the Johnny DeSantis Band and Frank Mekeel Orchestra from 1947-1973. He became a retired member of Local 238-291 American Federation of Musicians. In 1943 he joined the New York 56th Regiment State Guard Church Drum and Bugle Corps. Then in 1946 he transferred and enlisted in the National Guard, 170th F.A. BN Newburgh, NY. He served 23 years and retired as Sergeant 1st Class
Nicholas taught his children everything they knew and he will be greatly missed by his family. He was our patriarch, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be loved forever in our hearts for everything he taught us and the values he instilled into all of our lives forever.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Marie (Valentino) Purchia; his first daughter Catherine Grad and her husband Mark and their sons Ben and Nicholas; his second daughter Rosemarie Simmons and her children Jacqueline and Ryan and grandson Adam; his son, Patsy Purchia; and third daughter Regina Sorace and her husband Joseph III and their children Joseph IV, Steven and Victoria; his niece Vivian Peroni Cimorelli; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his sister Carmela Purchia Peroni and her husband Joseph, and his nephew Joseph Peroni Jr.
Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Friday, March 16 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Saturday, March 17 in Sacred Heart Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newburgh.