MSG Cosmo P. Pirrone

Cosmo P. Pirrone, Jr. died at home in Fayetteville, NC on October 16, 2021.

Cosmo was born September 10, 1949 in Brooklyn, NY to Cosmo Pasquel Pirrone and Rose Franchina Pirrone. He was predeceased by his father and his older brother, Ralph D. Pirrone.  He is survived by his mother, Rose Pirrone; his devoted wife Tammy; sister Josephine Pirrone and her husband, William C. Brusse; and brother Andrew Pirrone.  He leaves behind five children: Cosmo (and Tonya) Pirrone, Cynthia Rector, Nicholas (and Kimberlea) Pirrone, Dustin (and Megan) Gillenwater, Nicole (and Donavan) Purcell; thirteen grandchildren; and one great-grandson.  In addition, Cosmo had many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and loyal friends.

He graduated in 1968 from John Glenn High School with a certificate in automotive technology from Wilson Tech in Huntington, NY.  Cosmo was a gifted mechanic who continued to work at his craft both professionally and personally. He was a long-standing, valued member of the Veterans Motorcycle Club.

He was most proud of his calling as a soldier.  He enlisted in the Army in 1969, and served his country with strength, honor, and dignity for a total of 23 years. Early in his career, he was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne.  He proceeded to serve in the 1st Ranger Battalion, Special Operations.  He volunteered and was selected to serve in the Special Forces, achieving the rank of E8, Master Sergeant. His deployments included Viet Nam, Lebanon, Iraq, and other locations, before and after the Gulf War.  Among many other honors, he was decorated with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

After he retired from active service, he volunteered to be a Citizen Instructor in the Special Forces Qualification and Selection program at Camp McCall.

Cosmo was deeply admired, respected, and loved by family and friends.  He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

A private viewing will be held Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the LaFayette Funeral Home, 6651 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC.

Graveside service and Interment will take place on Friday, October 22, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, 8220 Bragg Blvd, Spring Lake, NC.

A gathering of extended family will take place on Saturday, October 30 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the home of Cesaera Pirrone and Thom Salisbury, 1391 Ruffner Road, Niskyuna, NY.

In lieu of flowers, Cosmo requests that a donation be made in his name to a charity of your choice or to the Tunnels for Towers Foundation, a tribute to those who lost their lives in 9/11.

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