Angelo Muto

Angelo R. Muto of Rye Brook, N.Y., formerly of Butler, passed away Dec. 2 after a brief illness.

He was born Oct. 18, 1926, in Butler to the late Samuel and Florence Barone Muto.

The oldest son of Italian immigrants, he became most successful in his life and career, being a very caring, devoted, religious and most generous man to not only all his family, but to everyone he met.

Angelo grew up in Karns City, attending school there, and later moved to Butler with his family.

A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines. He had also worked at the V.A. Hospital in Butler.

At the young age of 10, he began taking accordion lessons. Little did he realize this would become his lifelong career and love which he continued until the time of his death. He attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, and became an accomplished accordionist, musical entertainer and accordion teacher.

Having lived most of his life in Ozone Park, N.Y., Angelo was an active member of his Roman Catholic Church as well as numerous community charitable organizations and was honored with many awards, among which included the Italian-American of the Year award in 1989 from the Brooklyn Diocese.

He is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 61 and a half years, Norma (DiGiacomo) Muto; his son, Gary (Caren) Muto, of Greenwich, Conn.; his daughter, Maria (John) Wurpel of Larchmont, N.Y.; three granddaughters, Jordan Muto, Carla (Jon) Wong and Jessica Wurpel; three grandsons, Robert Muto, Brandon Muto and Gregory Wurpel; and one great-granddaughter, Brooke Wong.

Locally, he is survived by three sisters and one brother, Louise (John) Olenic, Josephine (late Richard) Gall, Frances (William) Draper and Sam Muto.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his oldest son, Robert W. Muto in January 2013; his sister, Betty Muto; and his brother, Robert N. Muto.

Angelo exemplified the meaning of charity and love, not only in his personal religious life, but in his musical business career. His warm smile and congenial personality were always a comfort to anyone he met. He will be so very deeply missed and always remembered in just so many ways by his ever loving family and all those whose lives he touched, remaining an inspiration to all.

MUTO — A Mass of Christian burial for Angelo R. Muto, who died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, was Dec. 6.