Vincent J. Catalano, Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Catalano was born on Nov. 5, 1930, in South Ozone Park, Queens, NY, died on January 9, 2022. He was the 4th of 5 children born to Joanna (Lampasona) and James Catalano. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in chemistry, and Georgetown University with a degree in dentistry. After graduating from Georgetown, he spent a year interning at Coney Island Hospital, and then, from 1957-59 he served in the US Air Force as a Captain and Base Oral Surgeon. He married Frances (Mele) in June 1957 and would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. He had many lifelong friends, including Larry DeCarlo who predeceased him. He met Larry in high school and they both became interested in dentistry. In college, they spent many hours in the lab while earning chemistry degrees. They shared a love of baseball and the New York Yankees. Their girlfriends and later wives became best friends, and the two couples spent many companionable times together playing golf or at the Catalano's lake house or on the fishing boat owned by the DeCarlos. After his discharge from the United States Air Force, he went to NYU for Oral Surgery didactics and completed his residency at Grasslands Hospital, now Westchester Medical Center. In 1961 he opened his office in Poughkeepsie, becoming one of the first board certified Oral Surgeons in Dutchess County. He worked with his nurse Marion Haight who became a lifelong friend of Dr. Catalano and his wife, until Marion died in 2017. In his practice, Dr. Catalano worked closely and for many years with his employees, including his partner Joseph Prisco, nurse Lee Capano, and dental assistant Elaine Crocco who joined the practice shortly after graduating and remained until it closed in 2020. He was well loved by his family and friends and patients, who particularly enjoyed his sense of humor. He was an accomplished woodworker who made numerous pieces of furniture for his family. He enjoyed traveling, visiting museums and spending time with family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Frances, son Vincent and his wife Wendy Racer, son Robert, daughter Laura Catalano and her husband John Van Wagenen, daughter Claire Hamel and her husband Todd Hamel. In addition, he is survived by his grand-children Marie, Matthew, Amy and Carter Catalano, Molly Lees, Juliet Van Wagenen and Ian Van Wagenen and Jake Hamel. And by his great-grandchildren Evelyn and Cecelia Lees. Friends and relatives may call on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, from 4pm to 7pm, at Sweet's Funeral Home, Inc., Rte 9., Hyde Park, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10am on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Regina Coeli Catholic Church, Rte. 9, Hyde Park. Entombment will follow at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to Abilities First, 167 Myers Corners Road #202, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 or www.abilitiesfirstny.org. Condolences may be made to the family at www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.