Birth date: Apr 1, 1933 Death date: Sep 22, 2017
Peter M. Vercillo, 84, of Syracuse NY, passed away September 22, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Peter is native of Syracuse and graduated from North High School and Morrisville College and was a veteran of the US Army. Pet Read Obituary
Very sorry to hear of Peter passiing . Pete was very nice person we grew up in same era. Pete was a likeable person always smiling. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES FOREVER IN CHRIST JESUS. lOVE AND PRAYERS TO ALL. James "Jimmie" King
He was Pete, he was Squeaky Pete, but most of all he was Coach. I had the honor of playing for Coach Vercillo in the early seventies for CBA. I wasn't anywhere near being a star player but I was one of his patented "messenger guards" and proud of it. I was 5'10" and 196lbs., but as Coach always reminded me, "Lee, dynamite comes in small packages".
The most important thing I learned from him was being part of a team to accomplish something greater than yourself. He was our Lombardi; you strived for that grin, that huge beaming grin that was his approval, and you cringed when that high pitched maniacal voice rang out meaning you weren't doing things quite right.
When the class of '73 had their 25th reunion, the only faculty member we invited was Coach Vercillo and he loved being there, being with his boys. There are people who pass through our lives all too briefly, but they are there at the right time and the right place in our development and maturation as a human being. They leave an impression, they leave a mark . . . that lasts.
I thank God Coach Vercillo was there for me.
My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all "his boys."
Heaven better watch out because after all, dynamite comes in small packages.
Ed Lee
CBA class of '73
Peter and family,
So sorry for your loss - a wonderful man who touched all of our lives
Dr. Tom Aiello and family
To Aunt June and all of my cousins Julie, MIchael, Peter, Amy, Vince, and Kathleen and rest of family in Syracuse, I am very sorry for your loss. Uncle Pete was a an absolutely great man! While i did not get to go to Syracuse as much as I would have liked, I still always looked forward to spending time with Uncle Pete. I could sit for hours and just listen to him tell stories about his younger days in football. He would sit in "His" chair, much like my dad's "King's Chair" and could talk both old and current football. You could hear that raspy voice all through the house and could feel the passion he spoke with whether it was football or talking about his kids and grand kids. I remember sitting on the the couch in high school listening to he and my dad (Dave Vercillo) talk for hours about defense and defensive strategy for our game that week. I played offense only so it always sounded like chinese to me at the time, talking of sam linebackers and monster man....Just like listening to Uncle Pete in person i could always hear that excitement in my dad's voice when he knew he was going to make that call to get the football words of coaching wisdom from his big bro.....I was so glad that Uncle Pete got to come down and watch me and my brother Vince play and my dad coach against our big rival, probably one of my dad's favorite surprise visits of all time. We won and enjoyed every second of the visit.
I will miss that insanely infectious smile and that raspy voice, the great laugh. My dad really looked up to his big brothers and the love and connection they have for each other was very obvious. Uncle Pete was just my uncle and I had short visits, but there was no doubt that he was an incredible man, father, brother, son, and grandpa.....I am sure he had his moments, but man I never once saw Uncle Pete with anything but a big silly smile. Some of the storires that I heard form my dad as a kid about how physically tough Uncle Pete was made me think he could single handedly take down 10 men at once, and probably could lol. He always relayed to my dad to "bet Hawaii at home...the visiting teams were only there to party" and that Hawaii would no doubt cover the spread. The first time i bet on Hawaii i lost, LOL. Was scared to ever do it again, but it only makes me laugh when i think about it. So from myself, my wife and kids here in Florida.....go talk football with the Big man upstairs!!!! Your Vercillo family in Florida is very sorry we cannot make it up in time, but we send our love, support, and prayers to all the family! I could not be more proud that have been born a Vercillo, love to all!
Tony Vercillo
My condolences to the Vercillo family on their loose. I am an usher at the 11:30 mass at Blessed Sacrament and he always had a smile on his face. May he rest in peace, Jim Becker,
Papa Pete and the entire Vercillo family are in my thoughts and prayers. An outstanding Father, Grandfather, coach, and family man who will always be loved and remembered.
Sorry for your lose PETE was a great man and a good person he will be missed .
I had the pleasure to meet Pete, through his brother Dave aka "Coach V" to us. When he came to our family Pizzeria in Fort Pierce. His smile was so inviting and warm and loving. In his two visits we laugh at all his stories. He was a very special person to all. Especially to Dave, and his family. I have to thank you Coach for meeting him. May god bless him and his Family.
Joseph Blandino
Expresso Pizza Fort Pierce
To my Big brother from your Little brother.( he always like introducing me as his little brother as I was 6 inches taller) So many memories!! At the age of 5 I lost my dad so Pete was my brother/dad. There were a few years that we slept in the same room until my mom moved me to FL. Many a night I was awoken when he came home usually late. Every time without fail he got down on his knees and said his prayers. You made a big impression on me. You gave me nightmares by doing imitations of King Kong to scare me. I always remembered the time you missed my birthday and every day I would bug you and ask where is my present and finally you said "Close your eyes what do you see?" I sad nothing and you said "That what I got you." Then there was the time you took me with you to rescue Bartaush who had shot an illegal deer we had to help him sneak it out of the woods. It really crushed me, when we moved to FL to leave many of my family. But I came up every summer. All through high school I lived with Pete and June all summer and he would get me jobs. One summer I painted their house. i was afraid to go to the top of a 40 ft ladder you would tell go ahead take a chance. Then I started coaching football you gave me a love for the game. We would stay on the phone for hours strategizing. My wife would always yell at me and say you don;t talk to me that much. Both of us were always in trouble with our wives. Then there were the parlays. Sat. morning talking about what college teams we should bet and you would call them into Midnight. I don't think I ever won a single one. You, Louie,and i would ride out to the turning stone and you would always have a new scheme for winning at keno. I always loveg hearing the stories about my dad Big Pete. How about the dream you had when he stopped by Cook ave and sat at the kitchen table. He wanted to meet your kids and he told you that you had done good. We had a wonderful family and you have a wonderful family. I can't be there for your last hoorah I am too far away and too sad to make the trip. But your family will be there for you!! As they always have. Thanks June for all that you have done. You were a great big brother and my great friend.
