Louis Lupinacci

U.S. Army
1943 - 1945
WW II


Born to Margaret (Pace) and Vincent Lupinacci, Louis Lupinacci was raised at 57 Mott Street along with siblings, Vincent, George, Camille. He was named after his brother Louis (who died at a young age).

Louis enlisted in the U.S Army during World War II on Dec 23, 1942 and trained at Fort Sheridan as a machine gunner. He landed with the first wave at Easy Red beach (a section of a five-mile-long beachhead code-named “Omaha”) during the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. He worked his way through France, Belgium, Holland,

Scotland, England, and Germany securing the beaches.

After he returned home, Louis was part of the 52/20 Club, a U.S. government program that gave WWII servicemen $20 per week for 52 weeks until they found a job. Louis first took a position in a fish packing company. His uncle then offered him a job in a construction company and he worked his way up to foreman and then supervisor. Lupinacci retired from that job after 42 years of service.

Louis met his wife Nancy in 1948. She worked with his sister Camille — in the former Chemical Bank on Canal Street in Chinatown. They were married January 20, 1951 in St. Mary’s Church, Rosebank and honeymooned in Quebec, Canada, traveling by train. They were married for 56 years until Nancy passed away in 2007.

In 2008, Louis traveled to Hong Kong to visit with his godchild, Veronica and her family. He took a cruise on the Yangtze River and climbed 1000 feet on the Great Wall of China.

In 2013 he traveled to Europe with Veronica and her husband Eddie. In France they visited the first tower he liberated. In Normandy beach they visited the exact spot where Louis landed during World War II and went on to visit Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome.

Louis is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Labetti Post in Rosebank. He bowled for many years, until age 96. His favorite pastimes include gardening and cooking. He was an active member of St. Charles Seminary and an usher at St. Mary’s and then St. Joseph-St. Mary Immaculate R.C. Church. He enjoys following new recipes, watching football, and the NY Yankees.

His greatest accomplishment was becoming a father figure to his nephews Bobby and Wayne Yarbrough along with many nieces and nephews and creating precious memories with family and friends who’ve grown to include their children and their children’s children. He is affectionately known as “Uncle Louie.”

Louis received the following medals and awards: Army Good Conduct, WW II Victory, Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II D-Day Commemorative Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal

WWII Veteran Louis Lupinacci turned 100 years old on September 13, 2024. Borough President Vito Fossella presented a proclamation to Louis (Louie) Lupinacci in honor of his 100th birthday. The proclamation declared Oct. 9 as “Louis (Louie) Lupinacci Day” in the “Borough of Staten Island.”

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