Deceased: 2018-07-05
Diocese: MANCHESTER
ICTE Spring: 1994
Reverend Victor V. J. Polito, peacefully entered into eternal rest, Thursday, July 5, 2018 at home in Amsterdam, NY.
Born in Amsterdam, NY, on September 16, 1926, he was the son of the late Vito and Josephine Cosentino Polito.
Rev. Polito was a graduate of St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam, later studying at St Andrews Seminary in Rochester, NY, and Christ the King Seminary St. Bonaventure, in Buffalo, NY.
Reverend Polito was ordained a priest on June 12, 1954 in Albany, NY, by Bishop Gibbons. On June 13, 1954, he celebrated his first mass at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Amsterdam, NY. He was then assigned to the Manchester, NH, Diocese. His first assignment was at Our Lady of the Mountain Academy in Gorham, NH. He was then assigned to All Saints Parish in North Conway, NH, and later served at St. Mary’s Parish in Dover, NH. While there he was a member of the Knight of Columbus.
After spending twelve years in New Hampshire, he joined the service and entered the United States Army in 1966. The Viet Nam War had begun and this is where he was sent for his first assignment as an Army Chaplin. After the war, he went on to complete two tours in Korea and eight years in Germany for a total of twenty four years. While serving his country, Rev Polito received the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, (1 Bronze Star), Expert Badge M-16 Rifle, Meritorious Service Medal, ( 1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster, Viet Nam Service Medal (5 Bronze Service Stars), Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm/, Meritorious Unit Citation, Armed Forces Reserved Medal, Overseas Service Ribbons (3) Viet Nam Campaign Medal, Viet Nam Civil Actions Award, and Overseas Service Bars (2). Reverend Polito was honorably discharged from active duty with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on September 30, 1991.
He returned home to Amsterdam to be with his family of which he so enjoyed. He had great love for God and Country, family, sports and friends. While at home he also spent 24 years assisting at St. Mary’s Church as well as many other churches in the area. Reverend Polito was able to celebrate many masses, one especially being the Italian Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs (Auriesville) which he celebrated for many years. He served the many parishioners of all the parishes in the Amsterdam area, as well as Sacred Heart Church in Tribes Hill, NY and St Cecilia’s in Fonda NY.
Reverend Polito is survived by his many nieces and nephews, Daniel (Sheila) Martuscello, Richard (Lorraine) Martuscello, Joseph (Irene) Martuscello Theresa Martuscello Cranker, Vincent Scidone, Tony, Joe and Margaret Politi. Reverend Polito is also survived by many great nieces and nephews, as well as many great- great nieces and nephews.
Reverend Polito was also predeceased by his brother, John Politi, sisters, Imaculata Scidone, and Antoinette Martuscello, nieces, Immaculate Colangelo and Mary Bustamante and nephews, Victor, John and Edward Politi.
Reception of the body will take place Sunday, July 8, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 156 East Main Street, Amsterdam, NY and will continue until 7:00 p.m. Reverend Polito’s concelebrated funeral mass will be celebrated Monday July 9, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church 156 East Main Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010.
Military honors will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Amsterdam, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Reverend Polito’s name may be made to the Matthew Martuscello Memorial Scholarship Fund, Reverend Polito’s nephew whom he truly adored and can be sent to Key Bank, 4773 State Highway 30; Amsterdam, NY 12010.
To send online condolences to the family, visit www.rileymortuaryinc.comReverend Victor V. J. Polito, peacefully entered into eternal rest, Thursday, July 5, 2018 at home in Amsterdam, NY.
