LeRoy F. Morabito, 96, of Baltimore, formerly of Butler, died Friday morning in Baltimore after a brief three-month illness.

He was born on Dec. 23, 1913, in Calabria, Italy, a son of the late Pietro and Mariantonia (Talotta) Morabito, and he moved to Butler with his family at age six. His birth name was Gregorio Fiderico Morabito, however, his first name was changed when he began attending school in the United States.

He was a lifelong member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler.

In 1933, LeRoy opened Morabito Shoe Store in Butler, which he operated until 1994, where he sold men's shoes and boots and repaired shoes. He had earlier served as an apprentice under Joseph Sassone from 1931 to 1933.

The original name of his business had been Ideal Shoe Store, during the first few years, but one of his customers advised that the store should be titled after his own name. He agreed and changed the name to Morabito Shoe Store.

He had been a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America.

For many years, he was an avid golfer and enjoyed gardening, as he was well known for the fig trees he raised in his backyard, which had to be covered underground in the winter season.

In 2002, Mr. Morabito moved to Baltimore near his son Joseph. He became a member of St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church in Baltimore. During his time in Baltimore, Mr. Morabito enjoyed touring many of the historic sites, museums and cathedrals in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Annapolis. Most notably, he toured every one of the Smithsonian Museums, including the newest museum dedicated in 2007.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Olive Tiberi Morabito, who died in 1989. He also was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

Surviving are two sons, Peter Morabito and his wife, Teresa, of Cincinnati and Joseph Morabito of Baltimore; three grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew and Nathaniel; and several nieces and nephews.

<B>MORABITO</B> — There will be no visitation for LeRoy Morabito, who died Friday, May 7, 2010. There will be a private memorial mass with burial at St. Michael the Archangel cemetery in Butler. Local arrangements are under the supervision of <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>.At the family's request, memorial donations can be made to Catholic Charities on Cathedral Street in Baltimore.