Brunswick- Walter J. “Walt” Vellotti, 59, a longtime resident of Brunswick and more recently Bear, Delaware, died peacefully, Sunday, August 14, 2016 at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany following a bravely fought battle with cancer.
Born in Troy, March 31, 1957 and raised in Brunswick, Walt was a devoted son of the late Michael and Florence (Hall) Vellotti.
Walt was a graduate of Tamarac High School, earned an Associates Degree in Business Marketing and Accounting at the former Albany Business College, studied as an English major at the University of Las Vegas and earned a Commercial Aviation Pilot License at the Comair Aviation Academy in Sanford, Florida.
In 1995, Walt was employed by the Comair Airlines as a flight instructor where he taught single engine thru multiple commercial engine aircraft principles, flight techniques and instrument training to students. From 1996 -2014, he transferred within the airline and was promoted to the rank of First Officer aboard commercial aircraft. In November of 1999 he was again promoted to the rank of Captain, flying commercial aircraft on routes that brought him to JFK, LaGuardia, Logan, Montreal, Mexico City and many other airports. Walt then went on to become a Flight Instructor at Flight Safety in New Castle, DE. He continued instructing new prospective pilots and developed several safety training programs that became part of the school’s current curriculum and the National Transportation Safety Board protocols.
Walt enjoyed traveling, especially to Europe and Central America, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle he referred to as “Buddy”, playing the guitar and a good political debate.
Friends and family where important to Walt, he made it a point to keep current with his many friends and relatives. His generosity to reach out and help others when they needed a good word of encouragement was one of his hallmarks as well as his ability to cope with his illness and maintain a positive attitude while still working and to others to perform the skill of flying that he loved so much. Walt gracefully accepted his and fought his illness and kept his sense of humor until the end.
Walt is survived by two sons, Michael Vellotti of Phoenix, AZ and Daniel (Ava) Vellotti of Boise, ID, his two grandsons, Luke and Carl Vellotti of Boise, a sister, Rosemary Vellotti-Palella (Richard Nadeau) of Brunswick, two brothers and a sister-in-law, Peter and Marge Vellotti of Flemington, NJ and Michael Vellotti Jr. of Las Vegas, NV, his Godmother and “special aunt”, Silvia Abate of Colonie, his niece, Jeanette Palella of Albany and several nephews, nieces and cousins.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Resurrection for Walt will be celebrated Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Victory Church, at Marshland Ct. and N. Lake Avenue in Sycaway. Burial will follow in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown.
Contributions if desired may be made to The Animal Rescue Project at www.theanimalsupportproject.org or by mail c/o Patty Watt, 308 Carrolls Grove Road, Troy, NY 12180 in memory of Walter J. Vellotti.
Born in Troy, March 31, 1957 and raised in Brunswick, Walt was a devoted son of the late Michael and Florence (Hall) Vellotti.
Walt was a graduate of Tamarac High School, earned an Associates Degree in Business Marketing and Accounting at the former Albany Business College, studied as an English major at the University of Las Vegas and earned a Commercial Aviation Pilot License at the Comair Aviation Academy in Sanford, Florida.
In 1995, Walt was employed by the Comair Airlines as a flight instructor where he taught single engine thru multiple commercial engine aircraft principles, flight techniques and instrument training to students. From 1996 -2014, he transferred within the airline and was promoted to the rank of First Officer aboard commercial aircraft. In November of 1999 he was again promoted to the rank of Captain, flying commercial aircraft on routes that brought him to JFK, LaGuardia, Logan, Montreal, Mexico City and many other airports. Walt then went on to become a Flight Instructor at Flight Safety in New Castle, DE. He continued instructing new prospective pilots and developed several safety training programs that became part of the school’s current curriculum and the National Transportation Safety Board protocols.
Walt enjoyed traveling, especially to Europe and Central America, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle he referred to as “Buddy”, playing the guitar and a good political debate.
Friends and family where important to Walt, he made it a point to keep current with his many friends and relatives. His generosity to reach out and help others when they needed a good word of encouragement was one of his hallmarks as well as his ability to cope with his illness and maintain a positive attitude while still working and to others to perform the skill of flying that he loved so much. Walt gracefully accepted his and fought his illness and kept his sense of humor until the end.
Walt is survived by two sons, Michael Vellotti of Phoenix, AZ and Daniel (Ava) Vellotti of Boise, ID, his two grandsons, Luke and Carl Vellotti of Boise, a sister, Rosemary Vellotti-Palella (Richard Nadeau) of Brunswick, two brothers and a sister-in-law, Peter and Marge Vellotti of Flemington, NJ and Michael Vellotti Jr. of Las Vegas, NV, his Godmother and “special aunt”, Silvia Abate of Colonie, his niece, Jeanette Palella of Albany and several nephews, nieces and cousins.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Resurrection for Walt will be celebrated Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Victory Church, at Marshland Ct. and N. Lake Avenue in Sycaway. Burial will follow in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown.
Contributions if desired may be made to The Animal Rescue Project at www.theanimalsupportproject.org or by mail c/o Patty Watt, 308 Carrolls Grove Road, Troy, NY 12180 in memory of Walter J. Vellotti.