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Most of the information below was gleaned from War Department announcements that appeared in the Syracuse Herald-Journal. Some of the servicemen and women listed on these pages did not live in Solvay or the town of Geddes, but in neighborhoods associated more with the village than with the city of Syracuse where their homes were located. I've corrected what I believe were spelling errors, particularly in regard to names. However, I'm sure errors remain. To correct them or to add people I inadvertently overlooked, contact me at the email address at the bottom of the page. — JACK MAJOR
 
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Pfc. Paul P. Fabian, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fabian, 845 State Fair Boulevard, Lakeland, enjoyed a 10-day furlough. He is stationed at Brenton Point, Rhode Island. Paul enlisted November 17, 1942. (8/17/43)

Paul P. Fabian died in 1974.
 

One of three brothers who have served in this war, Pvt. Benjamin J. Fabrizio, 28, of 505 Cogswell Avenue, Solvay, was killed in action in Germany April 9. Pvt. Fabrizio was a member of an infantry unit serving with the Seventh Army. He was a Solvay High School graduate and had been employed at the Sanderson Works of the Crucible Steel Company before entering service.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Fiolemena Fabrizio of the Cogswell Avenue address; three brothers, Anthony, who was recently discharged after serving 22 months with the Army in the South Pacific; Frank, who has been discharged from the Navy Seabees, and Dominic Fabrizio; two sisters, Sister Donata of South Carolina, and Miss Rose Fabrizio of Solvay, and several nieces and nephews. (5/6/45)

After he was discharged from the Navy Seabees, Frank A. Fabrizio became a general contractor in the Syracuse area. He died in 2007, at the age of 93, survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Anne Grossi.
 

There were at least two other Fabrizio families in Solvay represented by servicemen in World War 2. Pfc. Frank Fabrizio was discharged from the Army in December, 1945. This Frank Fabrizio may have been the son of Antonio (Anthony) and Clorinda Fabrizio.

Dominic "Doc" Fabrizio, a son of Daniel and Antoinette Fabrizio, enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a staff sergeant with the 416th Bomber Squadron stationed in Naples, Italy. Before the war he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in Rexford, Montana, on forestry projects. After the war he started his own business, Star Plumbing and Heating, and worked until he was 89. He was born in Warners, New York; raised in Solvay and was a rsesident of Syracuse when he died in 2007, at age 93. Survivors included his wife of 65 years, the former Mary Ellen Kriesel.
 
Philip Feliceangeli, private, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Zagaretta, 122 Alice Avenue, Solvay, is serving with the Army Air Forces in England. His wife, the former Miss Marion Rizzo, is living with her parents. (12/11/42)
 

Louis Femano, seaman second class, and Pvt. Joseph Femano are sons of Mrs. Clementina Femano, 501 Abell Avenue, Solvay. Louis enjoyed a furlough from Sampson Naval Training Station. Joseph is stationed with the Signal Battalion at Camp Forest, Tennessee. Louis is a former Solvay Process employe, and Joseph a Crucible Steel worker. Louis was inducted last February and Joseph last March. (7/6/43)

Corp. Joseph D. Femano, son of Mrs. Clementine Femano, 501 Abell Avenue, Solvay, enjoyed a nine-day furlough and reported back to Camp Shelby, Mississippi. His brother, Louis, is serving overseas. (4/9/44)

Louis Femano retired after 39 years with Allied Chemical and later was employed five years with Linden Chemical and Plastics Company. He died in 1994 at the age of 71. His brother, Joseph D. Fumano, apparently reverted to the original spelling of the family name. He also retired from Allied Chemical. He died in 1999 at the age of 75, survived by his wife, the former Mae Jerome, and three children.
 
Staff Sgt. Frank Fernandez, 409 First Street, Solvay, was promoted from sergeant to his present rating in the Army Air Forces at Miami Beach, Florida. (7/14/44)

I remember Frank Fernandez best for his time as chief fiscal officer and treasurer of the village of Solvay back when my father, Buster Major, was mayor. Fernandez also was chairman of the LeMoyne College accounting department for 38 years, had an office in Solvay and was on the board ofdirectors at Solvay Bank. He also served as president of the Solvay board of education. (He also was the reason my parents tried (unsuccessfully) to convince me to become an accountant.)

His wife, Dulce, is a native of Cuba who graduated from the Dominican Academy there and later was a flight attendant for Pan American World Airways, which is how she and her husband-to-be met. They married in 1947 and would raise five children. The oldest, Frank, became a lawyer and moved to Albany; Rodney became an engineer for IBM; Richard, known as Richard Jay Alexander, became a stage director; daughter Dulce a health teacher at Onondaga Community College, and Georgette a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company in Syracuse. This information, which may be outdated now, came from two newspaper articles in the 1990s.

Frank Fernandezl was one of three sons of Lorenzo and Mary Fernandez who served during World War 2:
A veteran of 30 months overseas, Sgt. Benancio M. Fernandez, 409 First Street, Solvay, is a member of the 17th Bombardment Group of the Ninth Air Force in France, which recently was cited for the second time by the War Department as a distinguised unit. Sgt. Fernandez is authorized to wear the Good Conduct Medal and a European Theater Ribbon with six stars. (7/4/45)
Benancio "Benny" Fernandez returned to Solvay and worked at Allied Chemical until he retired in 1981. He also worked at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home in Solvay for more than 50 years. He died in 2007 at the age of 90.

Lorenzo Fernandez returned from World War 2 and volunteered to work on the Solvay Memorial Day parade. Within a few years he became the chief organizer of the annual event — a job he held for almost 40 years. He graduated from Solvay High School in 1941, joined the Army and served in Asia, mostly in China and India.

Interviewed in 1999 by Syracuse Post-Standard writer Robert W. Andrews, Fernandez said he was stationed at a base in China where the Enola Gay refueled after dropping the first atomic bomb on Japan. "Those guys were shaking from the aftermath," Fernandez said. "We just said, 'Thank God, they dropped it and the war is over.' "
 
Two sons of another Fernandez family also were in uniform during the war:

Sgt. Joseph J. Fernandez and his brother, Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Fernandez, and Corp. John Gonzales, a friend, met in England. Sgt. Fernandez is with the Quartermaster Corps. Tech Sgt. Manuel J. Fernandez is with the Army Air Force, and Corp. Gonzales is with the Air Corps.

The Fernandez brothers are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Fernandez, 306 Center Street, Solvay. Corp. Gonzales is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ignacio Gonzales, 1108 Third Street, Solvay. Sgt. Joseph Fernandez is the husband of the former Miss Carmella D’Arrigo and has a 20-month-old daughter. (5/24/44)

Second Lieutenant Joseph J. Fernandez, 306 Center Street, Solvay, was recently promoted to his present rank following the completion of an eight weeks course at the Infantry Officer Candidate School in the European Theater of Operations. (7/6/45)
Joseph J. Fernandez was a supervisor at Crucible Specialty Metals and a president of the Lakeside Fire Department and at one time was a member of the Solvay Fire Department. He died in 1998 at the age of 79, survived by his wife, Carmella, and three children.
 

Albert Figueiredo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Figueiredo, 112-1/2 Hazard Street, Solvay, has enlisted in the Navy and is at the Naval Training Station at Sampson. (11/21/42)

Albert A. Figueiredo of Solvay, signalman third class, U. S. Naval Reserves, reported missing in the June 23 casualty list, is reported by the Navy Department as dead. He was the son of Anthony Figueiredo, 112-1/2 Hazard Street, Solvay. (11/5/43)
 

Corp. Raymond L. Finney of 200 Charles Avenue, Solvay, has been transferred to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, to attend the Officer Candidates School. He was formerly stationed in Albany. (9/10/42)

Second Lieut. Raymond L. Finney of Solvay has returned to his duties in Washington after spending a three-day leave here. (5/5/43)
Raymond L. Finney died in Zephyrhills, Florida, in 1995, at the age of 83. He retired as vice president of the Marjax Corporation and was the former owner of Ray's Diner in Solvay.
 
Richard Fitch, 102 Gere Avenue, Solvay, is awaiting classification at Nashville. He attended Bristol’s king College and received dual flight instruction at the Tri-City Airport, Bristol, Tennessee. (2/12/44)
Richard F. Fitch became a fighter pilot in World War 2. Later he operated Fitch's Arco in Syracuse for 30 years. He was a member of the board of education for the Onondaga Central School district. He died in 1995 at the age of 69.
 
James Fitzpatrick, machinist mate, second class, of the Navy, son of Mrs. Matthew Fitzpatrick, Hall Avenue, Solvay, has been serving two years, entering service after finishing high school. (1/8/44)
James Fitzpatrick and his wife, the former Rose Sgariata, left Solvay for North Syracuse and then Duluth, Georgia, where, in 2004, they celebrated their 60th anniversary with their four children and their spouses. The Fitzpatricks were married at St. Cecilia's Church in Solvay.
 
John T. Fiust lived at 162 Gere's Lock when he was inducted into the Navy in June, 1943. He was a graduate of Solvay High and remained on the outskirts of the village in hearby Warners. He retired as a foreman from Allied Chemical after 37 years. He died in 2004 at the age of 81.
 
Four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Flaherty of 204 Montroe Avenue, Solvay, served in the armed forces:

William J. Flaherty, 20, recently started training at the Great Lakes, Illinois, Naval Station. (9/10/42)

William J. Flaherty has completed a course as naval radiomen at the U. S. Naval Training School on the University of Chicago campus. (1/27/43)

Radioman Third Class William Flaherty is serving on the Atlantic with the Navy. (10/21/43)
William J. Flaherty married Elizabeth J. Reale in 1943 in Solvay. He served aboard the troop transport USS Elizabeth Stanton for a time, then was transferred to the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Flaherty is with the Army Air Corps in the South Pacific. (10/21/43)

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Romano, 205 Prospect Avenue, announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Viola Romano, to S/Sgt. Thomas M. Flaherty, USAAF, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Flaherty, 204 Montrose Avenue, Solvay. No date has been set for the wedding.

Miss Romano was graduated from North High School and is employed by the Merchants National bank and Trust Company. S/Sgt. Flaherty recently returned from 33 months duty in the Southwest Pacific, where he participated in three major battles. He is recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster. He is stationed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota. (2/5/45)
Ship Fitter Third Class James Flaherty is stationed at New York City. (10/21/43)
James Flaherty worked as a printer for the Syracse Newspapers for 24 years and at Allied Chemical as machine operator. He was serving aboard the destroyer USS Duncan, which was sunk in 1942 in Guadalcanal. He then was assigned to the USS Schubrick IV, which was damaged by enemy bombs and suffered heavy damage, but mananged to reach its home port. James Flaherty died in 1998, at the age of 74.

Seaman Second Class Edward M. Flaherty completed basic training at Sampson and was granted a seven-day furlough before returning there for assignment. He is a former Herald-Journal composing room employe. (1/5/44)

Edward M. Flaherty is attending aviation ordnanceman school at the Naval Air Technical Training center, Memphis, Tennessee. (5/24/44)

Edward M. Flaherty served aboard the seaplane tender USS Hamlin in the South Pacific. In 1946 he married Nancy Simmons.
 
Staff Sgt. Joseph Florczyk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Florczyk Sr., 425 Sixth Street, Solvay, was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity in the Mediterranean theater of operations. (7/31/44)
 
Alphonse J. "Al" Florczyk, son of Alex and Sabina Florczyk, served in the Navy during World War 2 aboard the USS Pasadena in the Pacific. He was present in Toyko Bay for the signing of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. He was a graduate of Solvay High School. After the war he joined the Syracuse Fire Department, retiring in 1975. He died in 2005, at the age of 91, survived by his wife, the former Angela Baranello. His brother, Anthony, who changed the spelling of his last name to Floreck, was a former county commissioner of finance. He died in 1990 at the age of 81.
 
Edward B. Floreck, another brother of Alphonse Florczyk, was a retired Marine Corps chief warrant officer. He was born in Solvay, but lived the last 23 years of his life in Las Vegas, where he died in 1992 at the age of 80, survived by his wife, Carol. He was a member of the Association of Survivors of World War II, the Parachute Units of the United States Marine Corps and Leatherneck Club of Las Vegas.
 
Pfc. Richard C. Foley and Sgt. James E. Foley, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Foley, 652 Terry Road, Westvale, enjoyed furloughs and returned to their respective posts. Sgt. Foley is a member of the Headquarters Staff at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he is in charge of War Department theaters. He was awarded a merit badge for good conduct and meritorious service. Pfc. Foley is in the Air Corps, stationed at Bushnell Field, Florida, and is now on a service flight through various sections of Florida. (9/5/43)
James E. Foley died in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 2004 at the age of 86, survived by his wife, the former Irene Ayer of Bamberg, South Carolina, whom he had married at New York's City's "Little Church Around the Corner."
 
John B. Fortunato, 81, of Solvay, died in November, 2002. He was an Army veteran of World War 2 and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Stanley Pennock Post and a past president of Geddes Veterans. he had retired in 1993 as owner of Fortunato's Men's Shop.
 

ALLIED COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS, ROME, Italy — Capt. Joseph N. Fournier, 35, who was born at Doves, Province of Aosta, Italy, is now assigned to the Allied Commission in Italy as adjutant at headquarters Piemonte region, which includes the place of his birth.

The captain entered the service in February, 1942, receiving his commission the following October. In September, 1944, he arrived in Italy as an Allied Military Government officer, joining the team that was to become the Piemonte Regional Headquarters on the liberation of the north.

Capt. Fournier was educated at the College of the City of New York. Before entering service he was an insurance adjuster employed by the Prudential Company. His home address is 321 Lionel Avenue, Solvay. (8/15/45)
Joseph N. Fournier died in 1962.
 
Sgt. John A. Francher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Francher, 707 Cogswell Avenue, Solvay, has been graduated as aerial gunner sergeant at the Harlingen Army Gunnery School in Texas. He was presented with silver gunner’s wings after five weeks of intensive training in the class room and field shooting of guns of all calibre. He will join a combat crew at the front. (3/1/43)
John A. Francher died in 2004, at the age of 83. He was a musician who played with several bands, including the Jimmy Dorsey Band. He worked in the automobile business for many years, as general manager of Dan Curtin Dodge and Sam Dell Dodge, and also worked many years for Eagan Real Estate.
Michael N. Francher, a younger brother of John A. Francher, was a Navy veteran of World War 2. He was born in Solvay and graduated from Solvay High School. After the war he became a manufacturer's representative for J. W. Stevens Company, retiring in 1992. He died in 2001, at the age of 73.
 
Thomas A. Francher, son of John and Josephine Francher of Solvay, was an Army veteran of World War 2. He retired as a dispatcher after 37 years with Chrysler Corporation; he also was a special deputy with the town of Geddes Police Department. He died in 1988 at the age of 67.
 
Nicholas Francher of 119 Boyd Avenue, Solvay, joined the Navy in February, 1943. He served aboard the USS Texas in the Pacific.
 
Albert J. Francescotti, private, son of James Francescotti of 110 Summit Avenue, Solvay, has reported to the communication department of the Armored Force School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, to take a course in radio operation and maintenance. (11/15/42)
 
T/5 Frank J. Francimone, 405 Cogswell Avenue, Solvay, was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey. (11/24/45)
Frank J. Francimone retired from the U. S. Post Office. He was a member of the Stanley Pennock VFW Post 2893. He died in 2005, at the age of 83, survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Gene Leahy.
 

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Friedli of 108 Gillis Street, Solvay, have learned that one of their four sons in service has bren promoted to the rank of major. Two others have had a reunion in France after two years of separation. One has received the Bronze Star.

Capt. Fred W. Friedli has been advanced to major in the Air Corps at his base in the South Pacific. He has been in service two and a half years and was on duty in England before going to the South Pacific.

M/Sgt. John C. Friedli Jr. and T/5 Arnold E. Friedli met in France. John found his brother’s unit while he was on three-day pass.

Arnold has been in the Army a year and a half and overseas since last September. John has been in the service three years and overseas 23 months. John was recently awarded the Bronze Star soon after he was advanced to master sergeant.

A fourth brother, Pfc. Gerald R. Friedli, was recently transferred to infantry training after having been first assigned to the Army Air Forces. He is also overseas and has been in service two and a half years. (3/28/45)
 

Captured by the Germans April 9, M/Sgt. John C. Friedli was returned to Allied control, according to word received by his parents through the Red Cross.

Several letters written by M/Sgt. Friedli at LeHavre also have reached his family. His biggest surprise of the war came when he met his friend, Sgt. Robert Beagle, at a camp where the liberated men are stationed pending the return trip to the states.

He had no word from his friend, and neither knew the other had survived until they met in France. Beagle is the husband of Mrs. Betty Beagle of 2701 West Genesee Street.

Friedli is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Friedli Sr. of 108 Gillis Street, Solvay. He attended Solvay High School and was employed by Halcomb Steel before entering the service. (6/10/45)

John C. Friedli died in 1982. Arnold Friedli, who was involved in village politics, died in 1958. Frederick W. Friedli also served in Korea and retired from the service with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died in 1996 and is buried at Pacific View Memorial Gardens in Lincoln City, Oregon.

Gerald R. Friedli, who played basketballl for the Solvay Process team, coached youth basketball for the Solvay Tigers and refereed high school basketball games, was one of Solvay's best known and best-liked residents. He was an avid golfer and bowler and served 45 years with the Solvay Fire Department. He died in 2011, at the age of 90, predeceased by all of his siblings, but survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris Johnston and their two daughters, Jeanine Haines of Fairmount and Beth Akkoul of Solvay.
 

Pvt. Angelo Fruscello, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dominic Fruscello, 1023 Avery Avenue, has arrived in England, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Carmella Fruscello, 302 Essex Street. Frederick R. Fruscello, seaman, first class, of the Seabees, a brother of Pvt. Fruscello, is stationed in Hawaii. (7/16/44)

Mrs. Angelo Fruscello of 302 Essex Street has received the Purple Heart awarded to her husband, Pfc. Fruscello, who was wounded in Belgium on October 8. Pfc. Angelo Fruscello went overseas last May as an infantryman, after training at Fort Meade, Maryland. He took part in battles in France before going to Belgium. (12/10/44)

Pfc. Angelo Fruscello of 1023 Avery Avenue is serving as a cook with the 582d Quarterbaster Battalion in Metz. He entered service in 1043 and went overseas May, 1944. He wears the Purple Heart medal and three battle stars. (8/17/45)
Frederick Robert Fruscello died in 2012, at age 87. He was a past commander of the Stanley B. Pennock VFW post 2893 in Solvay and a member of the Solvay-Geddes Veterans Association.
 
T/5 Irving L. Fuller, 1215 Milton Avenue, was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey. (12/18/45)
 

Corp. Mario J. Furletti of 109 Freeman Avenue, Solvay, is listed among 504 United States soldiers killed in the sinking of a ship in the Mediterranean, announced by the War Department May 1. The list of the dead has just been made public.

Corp. Furletti was a son of Mrs. Daria Furletti of 208 Williams Street, Solvay. In May, 1942, he married Miss Anne Santorum, and Mrs. Furletti now lives at the Freeman Avenue address.

Born in 1919, Furletti attended Solvay High School and before joining the Army was employed by the Camillus Cutlery Company. Besides his wife and mother, he leaves a brother, Pvt. Leopold Furletti, and two sisters, Esther and Yolanda Furletti. (6/8/44)
 

Pvt. Leopold Furletti, son of Mrs. Daria Furletti of Solvay, is stationed with an Ordnance Battalion at Jackson, Mississippi. His wife is visiting him there. He has been in service since October, 1942. (4/7/43)

Pfc. Leopold J. Furletti, Solvay, was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey. (11/7/45)
Leopold Furletti died in 1982.
 
Inducted into the armed services:
Arigo Fedrizzi, 116 Alice Avenue, Solvay (Navy, 7/8/43)
Roy L. Firebaugh, 2000 West Genesee Street (1/18/43)
Michael Flask, 302 Cogswell Avenue, Solvay (Navy, 4/2/44)
 
 
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For more on Solvay way back when, check out
the Solvay-Geddes Historical Society
 
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