Morabito

LeRoy F. Morabito, 96, formerly of Butler, died Friday morning in Glen Burnie, Md.

He was born in Calabria, Italy, a son of the late Pietro and Mariantonia (Talotta) Morabito and moved to Butler with his family at the age of 6. His birth name was Gregorio Fiderico Morabito, however his first name was changed when he began attending school in the United States.

A lifelong member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler, he was a member of St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church in Baltimore after moving there in 2002 and living near his son.

In 1933, LeRoy opened the Morabito Shoe Store in Butler, which he operated until 1994, where he sold men's 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, one of his customers advised that the store should be titled after his own name. He agreed and changed the store 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, and he was well known for the fig trees he raised in his backyard, which had to be covered underground in the winter season.

After moving to Baltimore, Mr. Morabito enjoyed touring many of the historic sites, museums and cathedrals there and in Washington, D.C. and Annapolis. Most notably, he toured every one of the Smithsonian Museums, including the National American Indian Museum that was dedicated in 2007.

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

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

<B>MORABITO</B> — Friends and family of LeRoy F. Morabito, who died Friday, May 7, 2010, will gather from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 14, at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 a.m. with Father James Dolan, pastor, officiating. Interment will take place in St. Michael's Cemetery. Local arrangements are under the supervision of <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, Butler.The family suggests that memorial donations could be made to the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, 120 W. New Castle St., Butler, PA 16001 or to the Butler County Symphony Orchestra, 259 S. Main St., Butler, PA 16001.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.