Paul A. Angrisano

Paul Anthony Angrisano was born in Buffalo, NY on May 22, 1948, to Paul J. and Marian P. (nee Blake) Angrisano. He grew up in Buffalo and Kenmore, attending Kenmore West High School before enlisting in the Army. During this time, he was a drummer for the band Caesar and the Romans with Chuck Vicario, better known as "Big Wheelie" from his later band Big Wheelie and the Hubcaps. His Army service from 1966-69 included a full tour in Vietnam as a Combat Medic. While in country he befriended the Montagnard people and helped give them medical treatment. He asked his home church of St. Pauls in Kenmore to hold a clothing drive for them. St. Pauls sent huge amounts of donations, which Paul distributed to the Montagnards. After his tour of duty, Pauls remaining time in the Army was spent as a physical therapy specialist for soldiers who had lost limbs in Vietnam. Before and after his Army service, Paul held a variety of jobs including working in a meat department, as an orderly at Kenmore Mercy, as a record salesman, a bartender, and an auto worker at the Ford Stamping Plant during the Steel crisis of the early 70s. Then he found his true calling of helping other veterans. He became a certified Veterans Service Officer and worked as Assistant Director of the Erie County Veterans Service Agency during the Rutkowski administration. He then continued as a Veterans Service Officer with C.O.P.I.N. House in Niagara Falls, and later for the VA at the Federal Building in Buffalo until his retirement. He was instrumental in developing new protocols for verifying veterans VA claims, including "psychological autopsies". In 1987 he was named the National Service Officer of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America. Beyond his employment, Paul served several other veterans groups. He was an officer and committee member of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, he was a Past Commander of the Harvey D. Morin VFW Post, a lifetime member of the Milton J. Brounshidle American Legion post, and a proud member of Vietnam Veterans of Americas Chapter 77 so proud that he sported a personalized license plate of "VVA 77" for decades. On August 19, 1977, Paul married the love of his life, Karleen Jo Voltz, and became Dad to her children. He shared with them his love of the drums, his enthusiasm for photography and fishing, and his patriotism and respect for all veterans. He had a wonderful sense of humor, from the off-color jokes of his youth to his great delight in telling terrible "dad" jokes to his grandchildren. On October 21, 2024, the Lord called Paul home unexpectedly. He was predeceased by both of his parents. In addition to his wife Jo, Paul is survived by their children Kristin (George) Lodick, Todd Seychew, and Jeffrey Seychew, as well as grandchildren Mary Kate Lodick (Daniel Johnson), Gabriella (Cullen) Stevenson, Briana Lodick (Jafar Wishah), George (Renee) Lodick, India Seychew and Sabine Seychew, and great-grandchildren Zara and Layla Wishah. He is additionally survived by his sister Margaret (late Michael) Lenartowicz, sister-in-law Sr. Karen Marie Voltz, G.N.S.H., and many other relatives and friends. Family and friends may visit the Lombardo Funeral Home (NorthTowns chapel) 885 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst, NY (near Eggert/Sheridan) on Friday, October 25th from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday morning, October 26th, at 10:00 AM at St. Paul's Church, 33 Victoria Avenue, Kenmore (please assemble at church). Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Paul's Memory to the Vietnam Veterans of America. Online condolences may be made at www.lombardofuneralhome.com. Services Cemetery Mt. Olivet Cemetery Tonawanda, NY