Walter “Wally” Joseph Schilo, 75

Walter “Wally” Joseph Schilo, a resident of Spring Hill, Fla. and formerly of Valley Stream, Long Island, died at home on Feb. 14. He was 75.

Born in Neversink, N.Y. on April 24, 1941 he was the son of Carol J. Schilo and Harriet Gover Schilo and the brother of Kathleen Schilo Gara.

Schilo and his family moved to Valley Stream and later to Warren, Conn. in 1947 where he attended The Gunnery in Washington, Conn. The Schilo family then moved to Cheshire, Conn. and Wally graduated from Cheshire High School in 1958 where he played multiple sports.

Schilo graduated from the University of Vermont in 1962 with a business degree. At UVM, he played varsity baseball and he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

After graduating college, Schilo began to work for his uncle, Walter P. Gover, at his grandfather’s, Walter V. Gover’s business (and he quickly became his partner and certified public accountant) Gover Travel and Insurance in Valley Stream, N.Y. After the death of Walter P. Gover, Gover Travel became the Schilo Agency until he retired in 2013.

On May 8, 1965 he married Madeline Ostroski Schilo. The couple lived in Valley Stream from 1965-2013 and have two children together — Kristen and Craig.

Schilo’s love for golf began at an early age and he was a member of the South Nassau Golf Club — as well as the writer of the club newsletter — for many years. In 1988, he got a hole-in-one. A 35-year season ticket holder (with first-level seats) for the New York Giants, he loved to attend games on weekends with his family. He also had a fondness for country-western music and relaxing at his Catskill Mountains home in West Shokan, N.Y.

Schilo is survived by his wife of 52 years, Madeline Ostroski Schilo of Spring Hill, Fla., his children, Kristen P. Schilo of New Canaan, Conn., and Craig J. Schilo (Alisa) of Eastchester, N.Y., his two grandchildren, Jack and Tatum and his sister, Kathleen Schilo Gara (Richard) of Cazenovia, N.Y.

A service is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at 1:15 p.m. at the Church of the Epiphany, 1750 Huckins Road in Cheshire, Conn., with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to any animal rescue/adoption groups.