Vincent D. Ciancotti

West Springfield- Vincent Dominic Ciancotti, 85, of Westfield Street passed away Tuesday at home. He was born and raised in Westfield. He moved to West Springfield in the early �60s where he lived in the same home for 53 years. He was an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word. Vinnie worked for Mansfield Paper Company for 59 years as Vice president of Sales. During this time he was also a real estate investor and broker and had his hand in many business ventures: running and owning rental property, a package store, a motel, and a strip mall, to name a few as well as many other investment opportunities. He graduated from A.I.C. with a B.A. in Economics. While there he played football all four years and was honored with enshrinement into their Athletic Hall of Fame for all of his accomplishments on the football field. While serving as Captain of the team he met the Captain of the Cheerleaders, Angela Pernice who would later become his wife of 61 years. While at Westfield High School he captained their football team which won the Peanut Bowl in Georgia in 1949 and 1950. It was during high school that he enlisted into the 104th Air National Guard in Westfield. Later on he served in the U.S. Navy where he also excelled playing football. He would often joke that he served on the USS Never Sail. He was an avid and lifelong tennis player and was rated 4.0 into his 80�s. He served for several years on the Westfield City Council. Vinnie was a member of the Dante Club in West Springfield and the American Legion Post 124 in Westfield. He was a communicant of St. Ann�s Church formerly in West Springfield and he is presently a member of St. Mary Church in Westfield. Vinnie traveled extensively and most enjoyed going to Italy to visit family. His story is the classic rags-to-riches one and his life was devoted to his family. It was through his natural ability in sports, and especially football, that he was able to go to college, where his keen mind was allowed to flourish. He credits much of his success in football to his coach, Bill Moge, and he was very proud of his alma mater, AIC. His natural good charm and business acumen allowed him to attain Vice President of Sales at Mansfield Paper Company where he worked most of his life. He touched many lives and was a father, and a �Nonno� to many beyond his own family, and an �Uncle Vinnie� to even more! He cherished his wife, his daughter, and especially his grandchildren beyond all else, and devoted his life to making theirs safe and secure. Vinnie was the loving husband of Angela A. (Pernice) Ciancotti, devoted father of Joanna Cobleigh and her husband David of Hampden, beloved grandfather of Benjamin and Laura Cobleigh, caring brother of Frank Ciancotti of Westfield, Christopher Kordas of Hillsborough, NH, and Linda Kordas of Manchester, NH, and he was the cherished uncle and cousin of many. He was predeceased by his mother Doris (Leonesio) Kordas, and his brothers, John Ciancotti and David Kordas. The funeral will be Saturday at 9 AM at the TOOMEY-O�BRIEN FUNERAL HOME, 1043 Westfield Street, West Springfield followed by a 10 AM Funeral Mass at St. Thomas Church, 47 Pine Street, West Springfield. Burial will be private. Calling hours are Friday 4-7 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations in Vinnie�s name may be made to the Westfield Boys and Girls Club, 28 West Silver Street, Westfield, MA 01085.