Ernesto Porcari went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 19, 2020 surrounded by his family after a brief illness. Ernesto was predeceased by his parents Benjamin and Annunziata, siblings: Giorgio, Renata (Masi), Serafino and Nicolina (Querini). Ernesto, more lovingly known as Nonno, was born on September 5th, 1923, in the small pastoral village of Carpineto Romano in Italy. The ever-present father, grandfather, and patriarch of the Porcari Family, his greatest joy was being with his family. Ernesto was married to the late Maria Concetta (Raponi) Porcari for nearly 60 years. They had nine children – Paola, Maria, Angelo (JoAnne), Sergio (Cathy), Albertina, Matilde (Mark), Giulio, Teresa (Danny) and Patrizia and sixteen grandchildren – Melina, Nicholas, Anthony, Connor, Matthew, Angelo, Ernesto, Taylor, Anton, Olivia, Hayley, Noah, Katerina, Andrew, Eric, and Sylvia.
In 1969, Ernesto boarded a ship with three of his nine children for America. A strong believer in education, he decided to come to the United States to provide his children and later grandchildren with opportunities unavailable in Italy. A decision he never regretted in the latter part of his life
Ernesto had strong values that he passed onto his children and grandchildren. Throughout his life, he demonstrated in innumerable ways that (1) Family always comes first (2) Never forget where you came from, and (3) Work hard at whatever you do. Ernesto was definitely a family man. Like many Italian families, he always celebrated with food and wine no matter the occasion. He loved when his house was full with his children and grandchildren. Similar to a chain reaction, as his family grew larger, Ernesto became happier.
Ernesto was at his best, and will be remembered most, in the more personal moments of his life: The love he had for his wife. The toothy-warm grin he would have when someone tried his homemade wine. The excitement he had at the face of a newborn grandchild. The infectious laughter he had when shimmying up a grape-vine pole. The shouting out of “Buon Natale” every time someone came in the house at Christmas time. And most of all, his slightly watering eyes, and look of loving content at the dinner table, when the house was filled with family, conversation, and food.
When Ernesto was not with his family, you could always find him in his garden, trimming his grape vines, and making homemade wine. He loved to travel and enjoyed treating his children and grandchildren to beach vacations in Delaware and New Jersey.
Ernesto was the rock of the Porcari family. His presence will be forever missed at the head of the table and in the garden outside. He achieved all he dreamed of and more during his beautiful and long life of 97 years. As in life, there is no doubt that Ernesto will continue to watch over the family he created.
The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to Mercy House of the southern, 212 North McKinley Avenue, Endicott NY 13760, or a charity of your choosing. Appropriate precautions are being taken for public health concerns, including masks, social distancing, and managing the number of visitors at one time.