Angelo “Babe” Yacano passed away peacefully on December 2, 2016 at his Florida home with his bride of 53 years, Janice, by his side.
Babe was born July 25, 1941 to Cony and Nancy Yacano. He joined his big brother Joe Yacano and welcomed two sisters thereafter, Grace Yacano (Sharpe) and Mary Ann Yacano (London). He had an unmatched work ethic. At the age of nine he was selling vegetables and at twelve was setting bowling pins at the Elks Club. He finished his schooling in Norwich, NY and then graduated from the Spring Garden Institute of Philadelphia. He worked with his Uncles in New Hartford where he developed his passion for running Gradalls. He and his brother Joe opened a Gulf Gas station in Norwich in 1964. Finally, he opened his own excavating business in 1979, Yacano’s Gradall Service, where he continued to successfully run it with his wife, sons and grandson, up to his death. He enjoyed attending many equipment auctions where he would purchase hundreds of Gradalls and you would be hard pressed to drive on any street in Norwich and not see a driveway he hadn’t put in.
Babe had many passions and hobbies through out his life. Early on, he developed a love of anything that had a motor and built his own hot rod (number 32A) that could be found tearing up the dirt track in Morris. He continued with that love and could be seen running his hot pink 32 chopped Ford around his homes in Norwich, NY and Stuart, Fl. He enjoyed going out to dinner with his family and made a second family of friends at Grove Park restaurant and Fred’s Inn. He loved watching the PBR and his children and grandchildren heard about “Bushwhacker” many times. Babe found a new and amazing passion for biking as a “senior” and could be found every weekend either riding to Lake Placid and up Whiteface Mountain or putting hundreds of miles on touring Jupiter Island in Florida. He was probably the only man known to have a bike rack on a corvette!
Babe was an extremely intelligent man and had a love of family that rivaled none. He made his home in Florida open to all his children and grandchildren and loved having them visit where he would show off his amazing landscaping talent and his favorite alligators. His quick wit and dry personality made everyone laugh and he was well known at his favorite Florida restaurants, Carrabbas and Bone Fish. He will be missed by many friends in Norwich and Stuart.
Babe is survived by his wife Janice (Dolan) Yacano and his children. His daughter Karen Dague, husband Garrett and son Ethan, his son Joe Yacano and wife Becky and children, Mike, John and Allison and his son Jim Yacano and wife Tamara and children Matt (who will be giving him a great grand daughter in December), Zack and step grandchildren Courtney and Erica. His brother Joe Yacano and wife Rose Ellen of Stuart, FL and his sister Mary Ann London of Norwich, NY also survive as well as his Aunt Mary Pugh and Uncle George Spinella, both of New Hartford. He is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins as well.
Calling hours will be Friday, December 9th from 6-7:30 at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home of Norwich with the funeral services also being held at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday, December 10th at 11:00 with a reception to follow at the St. Bart’s Parish Center. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Treasure Coast Hospice 1201 SE Indian St, Stuart, FL 34997 or the American Cancer Society – CMH Relay team, c/o Becky Yacano 179 No. Broad St, Norwich, NY 13815.