James P. Bell, of S. Farmingdale, died on Aug. 7, 2004. Beloved husband of Mary. Also survived by many other loving family members and friends. Arrangements were made by the McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home, Farmingdale. Funeral Mass at St. Kilian RC Church. Interment Calverton National Cemetery. John A. Mauro Sr., of Farmingdale, died on Aug. 8, 2004. Beloved husband of Jean. Devoted father of Laura (David) and John (Deann). Also survived by four grandchildren and many other family members and friends. Arrangements were made by the McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home, Farmingdale. Funeral Mass at St. Kilian RC Church. Interment Pinelawn Memorial Park. Deborah Ann Kossoff, of W. Islip, died on Aug. 9, 2004. Beloved wife of the late Joseph. Devoted mother and grandmother. Also survived by many loving family members and friends. Arrangements were made by the McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home, Farmingdale. Religious service held at the funeral home. Cremation private.

Charles Damian Levatino, 87, devoted father and loving husband, passed away, peacefully, on Aug. 12, at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown. Charles settled in East Meadow and began raising a family over the next 25 years. Shortly after retirement, he and his wife Anna moved upstate to be closer to their daughter's family. After spending 17 years in Saugerties, NY, Charles returned to Long Island during October 2002, to finally settle in Farmingdale.

Charles was drafted in 1942 and did his boot camp at a post in New Jersey. He often would tell the story about how he prayed the night before his group was to go overseas. The way the story goes, the morning his group was shipping out, the post commander required an aid, skilled in taking shorthand. Charles was the only one in camp who possessed shorthand skills. He served out his time in the service as an adjunct for the post commander.

Although Charles earned his living, for 30 years as an executive for the former New York/Penn Central Rail Road, he was the consummate artist. As a young man, he had aspirations to pursue an art career. He entered art school after graduating high school during 1935. Unfortunately, when his dad passed away, he became the primary bread-winner for his family; he dropped out of art school, after only two years, to find a paying job, but continued to create marvelous works of art, seemingly, effortlessly, for his family and close friends.

His lifetime of work consists of oils, pastels, pencil and pen and ink renderings. Those who view Charles' creations for the first time have always been stunned by the extent of detail in his work. As Charles reached his 80s, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. This malady only slowed his ability to craft new works of art; it just meant that his family and friends had to wait a bit longer for his beautiful paintings.

Charles' talents were not limited to his canvas artistic capabilities; he also was an accomplished singer who occasionally accompanied himself on piano. He participated in many shows while he and his wife Anna were residents at La Bonne Vie in Patchogue. He also took to the stage many times during vacation cruises while sailing on the Atlantic. It didn't take a great deal of coaxing to get Charlie to take the microphone. He was a serious crooner in the style of Perry Como.

Whenever Charles and his wife attended parties where music was available they'd consistently be the first couple on the dance floor. They were spectacular, whirling and dipping, whether they were doing a cha-cha, tango, waltz or a fast stepping jitter-bug. They'd always come off the floor to thundering applause.

Charles was a loving husband for 57 years and is survived by his wife, Anna. He was also a gentle, benevolent and adored father and grandfather and is survived by his son Richard and daughter Debra Santonastaso, their spouses, Linda and Sal and their children, Samantha, Ricky, Katharyn, Zachary, Jesse and Anna.