Louis Savinetti who loved Locust Valley, dies

Locust Valley High School’s football team have lost their biggest and most boisterous fan, Louis Philip Savinetti. The lifelong Locust Valley resident, who was 95, died of natural causes on June 6. 

Savinetti was once a Falcon footballer and for 30 years coached countless members of the Grenville Bakers Boys and Girls Club in football and baseball. Members of the Falcons football team may not have known all of that but what they did know, was that someone in the stands had their back, loved the game and them. 

“He was an enthusiastic fan, and you could always hear Uncle Lou at a football game,” his nephew, Chuck Savinetti, said, laughing. “He’d even take us down to watch the high school football guys play when I was going to the Boys and Girls Club. I took him down to see my son play in the late 80’s and he’s calling the plays before it happens.”

Family Court Judge Colin O’Donnell, a member of Savinetti’s Little League team, the Indians, while at the Boys and Girls Club, said his voice was the loudest when expressing his support for the Falcons. Sometimes he knew the players on the team from the Boys and Girls Club. Now, all grown up, they were playing on the high school team. But Savinetti didn’t need to know the players in order to cheer on the Falcons. 

He had a philosophy that was not the norm when it came to coaching young athletes. “Coach Savinetti,” as the boys called him, made all the players feel as though they had potential, regardless of their skill level. He was patient and kind, O’Donnell said, and gave the boys an appreciation of football and baseball. 

“He even gave me the opportunity to pitch,” O’Donnell recalled. “He thought everyone should have the experience, even though I didn’t have the best curveball. He was inclusive with those who should have been in the outfield. He always made you feel part of the game.”

Even after he no longer coached, Savinetti was dedicated to the Boys and Girls Club. He lent a hand at its clothing drive, was anywhere he was needed at the annual golf outing fundraiser, and would help at the Bingo games. 

“He was a gentle person with one of those million-dollar smiles,” said Ramon Reyes, executive director at the Boys and Girls Club. “He always stayed connected with the club.”

Savinetti was born in a house on Chester Street in Locust Valley and only left the hamlet twice for a length of time — to serve his country in World War II and then in the Korean War. 

He was fervently patriotic, trying unsuccessfully to enlist when he was only 16. And although Savinetti was a good football player, he declined a college football scholarship, choosing to enlist again in the Navy after graduating from Glen Cove High School. His first service was during World War II. Then he was drafted by the Army during the Korean War. 

He would have likely been killed there, had he not tended to a minor medical issue before leaving. A friend from Locust Valley who was going to Korea to serve in the same company as Savinetti convinced him to have a cyst removed before leaving for the Navy. His friend died in Korea before Savinetti arrived, as did most of the group Savinetti was to serve with. 

Once in Korea, Savinetti became familiar with yet a third branch of the military when he was told the Marines needed him. He worked with the Marines as a pole lineman hanging the electrical wires used for communication. 

“He had a great admiration for Korean people,” Louis said. “He said they were hard working and were happy the Americans were there.”

When Savinetti returned from Korea in 1953, he married Alice Stanco. And he took a job driving a truck for Local 282 of the Teamsters, which he continued to do for 20 years. Louis said his father loved driving. He drove cross-country and even to Los Vegas twice. 

Adept at math and science, he decided to become a civil engineer and was hired by Nassau County. The job allowed for him to interact with people, which Louis said his father enjoyed. He worked for the county for 25 years.  

“Dad had a lot of friends, but he never wanted to be front and center,” Louis said. “He just wanted to help people. He loved Locust Valley and its people.” 

He was honored when asked to become a water commissioner for the Locust Valley Water District, which he served for 40 years. 

“He always tried to do things the right way to get a positive outcome for the residents, especially as a water commissioner,” Louis said. 

Oyster Bay Town Councilman Tom Hand is a former Massapequa water commissioner. He worked with Savinetti on the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association. Hand said he found Savinetti possessed a wealth of knowledge. Even so, he was humble, Hand said, and would work with everyone. And he was a big help to Hand when he was new to being a water commissioner.

“He was a once in a lifetime type of person you gravitated towards,” Hand said. “You think back to George Bailey, how he helped out his community. Lou was such a genuine guy. We’ll certainly miss him.”

Chuck described his uncle as tough as nails, a strong man and a good leader. When he drove the truck for the teamsters it didn’t have power steering, Chuck said. And his uncle was a shop steward for them too, requiring him to keep the men in line. 

“When he worked for the county, he took all the tests and went up the ladder,” Chuck said. “They even dragged him through the sewer pipes on a dolly putting a rope on him for him to inspect the pipes from the inside before they were installed. He earned his keep.”

There wasn’t a job Savinetti shied away from, Chuck recalled. And no one could complain to Savinetti because he already did what he was asking others to do. 

When Chuck was laid off from Gruman in 1988 there was an opening at the Locust Valley Water District. When Chuck put his name in his uncle asked why a college graduate would do that. Chuck told him he wanted to stay local, and in doing so he ended up working side-by-side with Savinetti. 

“Uncle Lou was always strong as an ox,” Chuck said. “He’d pick you up with one arm when you were a kid. He was amazing. When he as 88, I asked him how do you do it? He told me one word — perseverance.”

Savinetti retired from his job as water commissioner three years ago. But he didn’t remain idol. He would help at the Glen Cove Senior Center, where he had once been a member of its choir, which he had enjoyed. He’d also stop by the Boys and Girls Club to see if he was needed.  But toward the end of his life he had to slow down. 

“His body failed him, but his mind never failed. It was sharp to the end,” Louis said.