Lt. Francis J. “Babe” D’Amico, Sr. (GPD Retired)
Our Beloved Papa

Francis J. “Babe” D’Amico, Sr., age 80, of Ashton Court, Clifton Springs, formerly of Genesee St. and Bays Heights Circle in Geneva and Oak Grove Park, Englewood, Florida, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Crouse Hospital Oncology Unit on Wednesday, January 14, 2015. Calling hours will be from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM on Saturday, January 24, at McGuigan-Bero Funeral Home, 45 High Street, Geneva. Funeral services will follow with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis DeSales Church, Our Lady of Peace Parish, at 1:00 PM. Entombment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Geneva Police Benevolent Association, St. Francis DeSales Church, or a charity of one’s choice.

“Babe” was born June 9, 1934, to Nazarene “John” and Mary Pane D’Amico of Geneva. He attended St. Francis School and DeSales High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated from DeSales High School in 1952 and served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict, first in the medical corps and then in the signal corps, and was promoted to the rank of corporal prior to being honorable discharged. He married his high school sweetheart, Louise Bernadette “Bernie” Roesch, on February 4, 1956, at St. Stephen’s Church and was a life-long member of St. Francis DeSales Church, Our Lady of Peace Parish until moving to Clifton Springs last year, where he joined St. Peter’s Parish.

“Babe” worked as a sales representative for the Trans-World Airlines office in New York City in 1956-57 and then was employed at the International Paper Company and D’s Tire Service in Geneva. He joined the Geneva Police Department as a patrolman on May 1, 1962. He took a year’s leave of absence to serve with the Ontario County Sherriff’s office, then returned to GPD and was assigned to the detective division and promoted to lieutenant in 1975, where he served the Geneva community until his retirement in 1987. For his encore career, he worked (and golfed!) at Seneca Lake Country Club in Geneva and Boca Royale Country Club in Englewood, Florida, for many years.

A life member and past commander of the American Legion Winnek Post #396, “Babe” participated in the color guard marching unit honoring the WWI Doughboys for many years. He was also past commander of the Ontario County American Legion, a member of the VFW War Dads, and a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus. He was formerly a member of the Geneva Appleknockers Drum & Bugle Corps color guard, the Hydrant Hose Company of the Geneva Fire Department, the Geneva Men’s Slo-Pitch League, and the Finger Lakes Chapters of Baseball and Football Officials. He was a fan of the Buffalo Bills football team and the New York Mets baseball team. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous in 2003 and celebrated twelve years of sobriety in January 2015. He was grateful for the support of his AA sponsor and friends. He was happy to have had a chance to gather with members of his extended family for a reunion in July 2014. He very much enjoyed meeting new friends at his new home in Clifton Springs. He will also miss seeing all his friends at the Deluxe Grill and was glad to have had a chance to enjoy his favorite meal there -- veal parmesan with ziti – frequently.

“Papa Babe” is survived by his children: Cheryl L. D’Amico, Francine J. D’Amico (Douglas Roll), and Mary Lou D’Amico (J. Mark Love), all of Geneva, and Francis J. “Chip” (Christine Brown) D’Amico, Jr., of Arizona; his grandchildren: Tracey E. O’Donnell (Ryan) Wallace, Shannon R. Love (Tim Hansen), Andrew J. O’Donnell, James F. D’Amico Roll, Alexander M. D’Amico Love, and Patrick C. D’Amico Roll; and his great-grandson, William Michael Wallace; his sister, Genevieve (Howard) Semler of Texas/California; his sisters-in-law Angela D’Amico of Florida and Joan Roesch of California; his brother-in-law Frederick “Rick” (Dorothy) Roesch of Florida, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Bernadette, on December 7, 2008; his brothers Patrick, Dominic “Ninny,” and Nazarene “Skip” D’Amico; his sisters Marie (Erman) D’Alesandro and Eleanor (Louis) Saglimbeni; and by his beloved grandson, Michael F. D’Amico, on January 14, 2003. He will be remembered with pride and much love and will be greatly missed by his family.

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