Gasper Ragusa

Gasper Ragusa, 86, of Charleston, a former inventory manager and retired U.S. Postal Service employee who loved gardening and was a trivia expert, died Tuesday in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay.

He was born and raised in Manhattan.

After Mr. Ragusa and Sarah Farruggia wed in 1955, they moved to New Dorp. They settled in the Tides of Charleston 10 years ago.

Mr. Ragusa had a 25-year careeer at Swarovski in Manhattan as an inventory manager, then was a mail carrier for 15 years for the U.S. Postal Service.

He was a member of the track team at the Boys Club of New York in his youth.

Mr. Ragusa loved his garden, where he grew tomatoes and basil. He was an avid sports fan and cinema trivia expert. He enjoyed traveling and was a good dancer. And he was fond of movies, the theater, and playing card games.

He was close to his many nieces and nephews and loved being an uncle.

Surviving is his wife of 61 years, Sarah.

The funeral will be Friday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church, Pleasant Plains. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.

Services: St. Thomas the Apostle RC Church Friday, February 5, 2016 10:30PM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Thursday, February 4, 2016 2-4 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: Moravian Cemetery

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: St. Thomas The Apostle RC Church