Beloved Syosset Veteran Dies At 99, Days After Birthday

SYOSSET, NY — The American Legion Post 175 announced the death World War II veteran Gus Scutari, 99, on Thursday morning. Scutari was a pillar of the Syosset community and had just celebrated his birthday on Friday, April 3.

Scutari's recent birthday caught the area's attention when two locals found a creative way to celebrate him despite the new coronavirus forcing Long Island nursing homes to prohibit visitors. Kim Rampanelli and her daughter, 18-year-old Nicole Rampanelli, held large signs and sang 'Happy Birthday' outside Cold Springs Hills Nursing & Rehab in Woodbury. Scutari and his wife Fran watched from the window.

"He is also a legend in our town of Syosset," Kim told Patch on Friday. "When he started waving the American flag, I lost it."

There are many things that made Scutari a 'legend' in his Long Island community.

Scutari served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was 24 when a kamikaze plane struck his ship and killed 14 of his comrades. Once released from the Navy, Scutari got married and moved to Syosset, where he was a commander for the area's Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion.

For more than 20 years, Scutari coordinated the Syosset Memorial Day parade and volunteered in a range of other roles. For his military service and steadfast community work, he was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame in 2013.

Plans on Scutari's memorial have not been released, but more information will be posted when made available.

To learn more about Scutari's life, read these past articles:

• Syosset Coronavirus: 99-Year-Old Vet Gets Birthday Surprise
• Heroes Among Us: The American Legion Series
• Salute Syosset's Parade Master
• Parade Coordinator Keeps Syosset in Step