February 23, 2020 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
LOCAL
CL ASSIFIEDS
PAGE 11
ASTORIA LOSES A LOCAL LEGEND
Community mourns as icon Luke Gasparre, a World War II combat, dies at age 95
BY BILL PARRY
Astoria is mourning the loss
of one of the neighborhood’s
most beloved figures.
World War II veteran Luke
Gasparre, who went on to become
an usher for the New
York Mets when Shea Stadium
opened in 1964, died Feb. 13 at
the age of 95.
“Luke Gasparre was a friend
to everyone in Astoria,” state
Sen. Michael Gianaris said.
“”He shared his love of the Mets,
public service, and his community
with every person he encountered.
We will miss Luke’s
warm presence and constant
smile. I was proud to induct him
into the Senate Veterans Hall
of Fame in 2016 and was even
prouder to call him my friend.”
At the young age of 18, Gasparre
trained to become a soldier
and was assigned to the
87th Infantry Division that was
tasked with breaking through
the German lines. He fought in
the Battle of the Bulge, which
was the highest casualty operation
by the end of World War II.
“At one point he was in combat
for five straight months,” Astoria
civic leader Antonio Meloni
said during a ceremony honoring
Gasparre in 2014.
Following the war, Gasparre
returned to Astoria having
earned seven medals including
the Bronze Star and Purple
Heart. He worked for the postal
service for 34 years and to
make ends meet he took a job
as an usher for the Mets for 55
years, the most ever in the Mets
organization.
“Luke held a special place in
our Mets family. He served as
an usher for parts of six decades
and was a decorated World War
II veteran who wore his Purple
Luke Gasparre is carried out of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Astoria. Photo by Dean Moses
Heart and Bronze Star on his
usher’s uniform,” the Mets said
in a statement. “So many of our
fans knew him as he always welcomed
everyone with open arms
and a friendly conversation. He
will be missed by many and we
send our heartfelt condolences
to all his family and friends.”
Gasparre was also a ticket
taker and usher at the
U.S. Open for more than 40
years. He became the longtime
leader of the Tamiment
Democratic Club and various
other civic groups.
Former City Council Speaker
Peter Vallone, Sr., who represented
Astoria for more than
three decades, put Gasparre on
the City Planning Commission
“because of his brilliant mind,”
and Gasparre was a longtime
member of Community Board 1.
He was married to his late
wife, Madeline, for 66 years and
they had a family of three children,
five grandchildren and
four great-grandchildren.
Visitation took place at Drago
Funeral Home at 43-10 30th
Ave. on Saturday, Feb.15, Sunday,
Feb. 16, and Monday, Feb.
17, and a funeral mass was held
at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic
Church — located at 43-19 30th
Ave. — on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
“Luke Gasparre was a community
treasure. I will remember
him best for his warmth,
generosity and strong commitment
to his community,” Assemblywoman
Aravella Simotas
said. “Whether chatting with
him when the Mets where playing
at home or dancing with him
at community functions, Luke
had a way of making me smile.
Our community will miss him.
I will miss him. My condolences
to his family and friends.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–
4538.
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