Carmelo Cardillo

Carmelo "Carlo" Cardillo, 86, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026, in Milford, Pennsylvania. Born on September 12, 1939, in Porto Salvo, Catania, Sicily, he spent his early years there before immigrating to the United States in the 1960s. He eventually settled in New York, proudly calling The Bronx his home for many years. In 2009, Carlo and his beloved wife of 42 years, Claire, retired to Milford, Pennsylvania, where they embraced a quieter life surrounded by nature.

A dedicated and hardworking man, Carlo spent many years as a maintenance worker and groundskeeper for the Bronx Zoo. He was known for his remarkable skill and craftsmanship, often described as having “hands of gold,” especially in carpentry and masonry. He will be remembered as a tough, loving, and easygoing man who found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He loved hunting, camping, gardening, and traveling with family and friends in his RV. In retirement, he especially enjoyed relaxing on his porch, watching the deer pass by.

Carlo was predeceased by his wife Claire and his parents, Leonardo and Carmelina. He is survived by his sister, Maria, and his brother, Salvatore; his children, Leonard and the late Suzanne, and Roseann and her husband Jim; and his grandchildren, Carl and his wife Deidre, Justin, Krista, Eric, Alyse, and Regina. He also leaves behind his great-grandson, Andie. Carlo was a loving stepfather to Joe and his wife Stacey and Greg and his wife Dominique, and a proud grandfather to Nick and his wife Stephanie, Thomas, Joseph, Steven, and Sophia, along with his great-grandsons, Theo and Gio.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.