SHERBURNE – Vincent Santa Maria, 84, of Barefoot Bay, Fla., formerly of Earlville and Sherburne, passed away Friday, March 16, 2007 at the Sebastian River Medical Center, Sebastian, Fla.
Born Feb. 13, 1923 in Elizabeth, N.J., he was one of twelve children of Antonio and Filomena Esposito Santa Maria and received his education in local schools. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps. in 1942, serving in the South Pacific where he was severely wounded on Guadalcanal, and was honorably discharged in 1946. On Nov. 21, 1943, Vince was united in marriage to Pauline C. Toro in Roselle Park, N.J. They lived in Edison, N.J. from 1952 until 1971. Vince had been a tractor-trailer driver for several years; was a Correctional Officer for Middlesex County, N.J. and then joined the Edison (N..) Police Department.  He resigned from police work when he became the co-owner of the Santa Maria Tavern in Highland Park, N.J. Moving to Earlville in 1971 he purchased Ken’s Diner in South New Berlin, which he operated until he retired. He and Pauline spent winters in the Vero Beach, Fla. area for many years. During his summers in New York, he loved spending countless hours in his huge garden growing vegetables for his whole family and many friends to enjoy. His favorite pastime while in Florida was fishing in the Sebastian Inlet. He was also an avid deer hunter for many years. Pauline predeceased him on Nov. 17, 2001. On March 14, 2003, Vince married the former Vernell Wehner, and they made their home in Barefoot Bay.
Vince was a communicant of St. Luke’s Church, Barefoot Bay. He was a life member of the American Legion Post #876, Sherburne, a member of the Sebastian River VFW Post #10210, the Loyal Order of Moose #1767, Micco, Fla. and the Disabled American Veterans. He was a past commander of the Catholic War Veterans of Roselle Park, N.J.
Surviving are his wife, Vernell; four daughters and sons-in-law; Stephanie and Fred Tompkins of Earlville; Paula and Russell Meseroll of Camillus; Elena and David Casscles, Celia and David Palmiter, all of Sherburne; six grandchildren, F. Vincent (Cara) Tompkins of Sherburne; Benjamin Palmiter of Rochester; Jansen (Bernadette) Casscles of Sherburne; Rebecca Meseroll and Ross Meseroll of Camillus; Cpl. Jesse Palmiter, USMC, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; two great-grandchildren, Spencer Michael and Elena Mae Tompkins of Sherburne; two sisters, Theresa Cicchetto of Roselle Park, N.J. and Rose Gink of Rhode Island; a brother and sister-in-law, G. Paul and Myrtis Santa Maria of Barefoot Bay, Fla.; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers, Joseph, Charles and Anthony Santa Maria, and five sisters, Mary Santa Maria, Anna Limone, Mary Kutsy, Carmela Cistaro and Philomena Toohey.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday from St. Mary’s Church, Hamilton.
Interment with military honors will be made in St. Malachy’s Cemetery, Sherburne in the spring.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Monday from 5-8 PM.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Legion Post #876, Sherburne, the Sherburne Emergency Squad or Sherburne Fire Department.