Alvin ‘Al’ Nicholas Catalano II

Posted on January 20, 2023

Alvin “Al” Nicholas Catalano II of Perry, passed away peacefully at his home on Dec. 12,

2022, after an extended illness. He was 87 years old.

Alvin was born Aug. 7, 1935, in New Orleans, La. He was the son of Alvin Nicholas

Catalano I and Mary Dobernich Catalano.

He was of the Catholic faith and graduated from Holy Cross Academy.

After graduating in 1958 from University of Louisiana with a bachelor’s degree in forestry and wildlife management, he enlisted in the Navy where he served his country in two tours of the Vietnam War.

Al served as a commanding officer and anti-submarine warfare specialist aboard the USS naval destroyer Bole.

He received his master’s degree in education from George Washington University in 1975.

After serving his country honorably for 20 years, he retired from the Navy and settled his family in Wellborn, Fla.

In 1986 he went to work for the Suwannee County School Board, where he taught wood working before retiring for the second time in 2001.

In 1999, Al and his family moved to Perry (Keaton Beach). Prior to his third and final retirement, he worked for the Taylor County Public Library from 2005 to 2020.

Al was an avid fisherman, a talented net maker and had a passion for woodworking. If he was

not fishing or building something, you could always find his nose in a book. He had so much

knowledge and enjoyed sharing that with everyone he talked with.

Al never met a stranger. He loved spending time with his grandkids and telling them his stories and jokes.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife of 57 years, Marion McGuire Catalano; his stepfather, Audley Lanson; and a brother, Dale George Catalano.

He is survived by: his only son, Audley (Stephanie) Catalano; three grandchildren, Ashley

(Thomas) Dykes, Lanson Catalano and Savannah (Triston) Barfield; and two great-grandchildren, Charney and Madelyn Dykes; along with a host of many friends.

Services with military honors will be held Saturday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception

Catholic Church in Perry with Father Matthew Officiating. A reception will follow in the parish

hall for family and friends. Anyone attending may bring a covered dish.

Arrangements are under the direction of Beggs Funeral Home of Perry.

Condolences may also be shared at www.beggsfuneral.com.