A beloved veteran, who was born in Williamsbridge and fought to help his fellow service members, passed away recently.
Local Army Reserves veteran and dedicated veteran advocate Paul Golluscio died on Monday, September 10 at 80-years-old after battling a series of bouts with cancer.
Golluscio was one of two children born to Armond and Antoinette Golluscio on March 11, 1938.
He attended school at P.S. 21, DeWitt Clinton High School and Long Island University Brooklyn.
Golluscio earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Chiropractic Institute of New York in 1959.
He proudly served his country during his 27-year career in the Army Reserves as a sergeant major.
For 29 years, he served as the Samuel H. Young American Legion Post 620’s secretary and executive committee senior member.
Living up to his childhood nickname ‘Buddy,’ Golluscio shared stories and jokes with customers while serving them drinks every Friday at Post 620.
Affectionately known to many as ‘Doc,’ Golluscio opened his chiropractic office at 3000 Middletown Road in January 1960.
He ran his practice there for 44 years before retiring in March 2004.
According to his stepdaughter Lucia Franchini, Golluscio met her and her mother, Marion, when they moved into the same building at the corner of Barnes Avenue and East 231st Street in 1964.
He was their neighbor down the hall and they would marry a decade later.
Golluscio penned a weekly column for Post 620 in the Bronx Times Reporter sharing his wit and wisdom, as well as news that was important for veterans.
His weekly column also included the very popular Trivia Time, which recounted the historical significance of the week’s upcoming dates.
Each year he got a chuckle from his loyal readers when he would announce that he had once again been bypassed for that year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade marshal.
He signed off his column with the following sentiments: “Keep the troops in your prayers, hug a vet, and God bless!”.
He visited veterans at the Montrose Veterans Hospital, planted flags on veterans’ graves, assisted veterans with their benefits and mailed care packages to troops stationed in Afghanistan.
In 2017, the Chippewa Democratic Club presented Golluscio a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with veterans.
Golluscio, who had lived in Throggs Neck for most of his married life, moved to Scarsdale in 2000, but stayed active with his post.
His favorite hobbies included watching ‘Jeopardy’ and true crime shows, surfing the internet, playing golf and hunting with his friends.
In his last few months, Golluscio’s health was failing and was using a cane for support.
One day while Franchini was driving him to a doctor’s appointment he noticed a weathered flag flying outside a plant nursery.
He gave her a new flag and asked her to give it to the nursery’s manager to replace the worn one, which the manager obliged.
Golluscio took the discarded flag and properly retired it during a Sam Young Post flag-burning ceremony.
Golluscio was laid to rest at Calverton National Cemetery in Riverhead, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Samuel H. Young American Legion Post 620, 1530 Hutchinson River Parkway, Bronx, NY 10461.
Golluscio is survived by his wife Marion; his stepdaughters Lucia, Rosemarie and Kim; his granddaughter Loren and his great-grandson Isaiah.
