Antoinette D. Coccaro Ligotti passed away April 9,2013. She was 99 years old. Mrs. Ligotti was a graduate of St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in New York City. She received her R.N. degree in 1936. She was a Psychiatric Supervisor at Harlem Valley State Hospital in Wingdale, NY as well as a school Nurse at Westlake Middle School in Thornwood, NY from 1972-1983.
While working at Harlem Valley State Hospital she volunteered as a “guinea pig” receiving the flu vaccine. As a result of the testing it proved to be very successful during an outbreak of influenza. She received 2 citations from the U.S. Treasury for selling War Bonds in 1943. In 1954 she received a citation for the Polio Vaccine Field Drive from the Westchester Chapter in New York State.
She married Thomas V. Ligotti on Sept. 13th, 1942 in New York City while he was in the service. In 1949 the family moved to Hawthorne, NY where they resided for nearly 50 years. Mrs. Ligotti continued her career working as a private duty Psychiatric Nurse at Bloomingdale Private Hospital in White Plains, NY.
From 1958-1978 she became a member of the Pleasantville Music Theatre in Pleasantville, NY where her husband Thomas and daughter Deborah performed. She was involved in sewing costumes for many of their theatre productions.
Mrs. Ligotti also volunteered at the Westchester Medical Center children’s psychiatric division where she worked with an autistic child for 3 years. After retiring from school nursing she continued to volunteer at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY until her move to Port Charlotte, FL in 2000. She also volunteered at the Peace River Elementary School in Port Charlotte, FL.
In addition to her husband Thomas of 70 years, she is survived by two daughters. Carol Ann Lugari of South Gulf Cove, Port Charlotte, FL and Deborah Cyr of Louisville, KY; four grand-children, Robert Lugari of California, Pamela Dubas of Poughkeepsie,NY, Heather Castrone of California, Michael Cyr of New York City,NY; three great grand-children, Ashley Nesheiwat and Ryan Keefe of Poughkeepsie, NY; Dean Castrone of California; a great-great-grand-daughter Annabelle Nesheiwat of Poughkeepsie,NY; a sister, Gloria Sanchez of Tarrytown,NY; a brother, Richard Coccaro of California,. and also many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Barbato and Josephine Coccaro, a brother Albert Coccaro, a sister Elizabeth Viani and a brother Peter Coccaro.
A private memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd. Sarasota, FL. 34238
Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to sign the memory book and extend condolences to the family. Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.