Thomas Gaetano Allocco

Thomas Gaetano Allocco, born February 1, 1936 in East Harlem, New York City, NY to Frank Allocco and Antoinette Mancuso Allocco, returned home to our loving Creator on the 18th of June, 2018. He had one younger sister, Rosalie Columbia Alsabrook. In “Little Italy” he was surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family, where he lived until the age of ten. The family moved to Amityville after WWII, where they established family businesses while the children grew up. He attended SUNY Teacher's College in New Paltz, NY, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Education for Fine Arts. After graduation, he was stationed in the US Army as a draftsman at Fort Huachuca, AZ, and shortly thereafter started his Education career as Art Supervisor in Jefferson County, West Virginia. This is where he met and married his first wife of twenty years, Evelyn Earp, with whom he had three children; Devon Allocco, Lynev August, and Frank Allocco. They lived in Long Island, NY, while he taught and attended Columbia University, where he completed his Master's Degree in Fine Art. In 1968, the family moved to Florida, eventually settling in DeLand, where he was a Volusia County art teacher for over thirty years. It was here that he met his second wife, Diana Ortega Sen; a Volusia County teacher, and made a life raising two children, Surya Sen, and Diana S. Sen. They both taught school, while encouraging each other to further their respective educations; he obtained an EdS (Education Specialist) from Nova Southeastern, and moved to different cities in FL in order to accommodate and support Diana's professional and educational dreams. With his encouragement, she completed her PhD. Approximately ten years ago, he and Diana moved to Orlando for retirement. Tom was preceded by his sister Rose, who passed May 8, 2018. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Diana Ortega Sen, children Devon Allocco (wife Teresa, children, & grandchild) of Anchorage, AK, Lynev August, USN, Ret (husband Capt.P.Eric August, USMC,Ret) of Orlando, FL, Frank Allocco of Orange City, FL, Surya Sen (wife Melissa & children Christopher and Eleanor) of Chicago, IL, Diana S. Sen(husband William Thilly, children Diani and Willo) OF NYC, NY, granddaughters Kylie Allocco (great grandson Logan Fry) of Orange City, FL, Kimber Boonmast (husband Tyler & three children; Aaron, Kaylee, & Evelynn) of Pensacola, FL, grandson Tommy Allocco, and grandson Daniel LeBron. Tom touched countless lives during the course of his teaching career, inspiring many to study the arts, encouraging interest in the arts, and being a good friend to many. As a second-generation Italian, family and education were most valued to him. He was the first in his family to attain a college degree, and he was always interested in learning in many ways. He loved history, travel, fine food, all crafts and fine arts, cinema, and gardening. He was generous, and a talented artist, winning many awards over the course of his lifetime. Most of all, he was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend; who will be sorely missed by all that loved him. Services for Mr. Allocco will be held on June 23, 2018 at our Maitland Chapel. A Visitation will be from 2pm to 4pm, followed by a Funeral Service at 4, which will be concluded with a Reception. Arrangements are entrusted to DeGusipe Funeral Home and Crematory, 9001 N Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751, 407-695-CARE(2273)

Thomas Gaetano Allocco

February 1, 1936 - June 18, 2018