Major R. Dalessandro, Farrell, passed away at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2012, in Whispering Oaks, Hermitage, where he was a resident for the past three months. He was 90.

Mr. Dalessandro was born May 15, 1922 in Farrell a son of the late Pasquale and Rose Sciortino Dalessandro.

He attended Farrell High School until he withdrew his junior year, due to the unexpected death of his father, to work at the former Carnegie Steel.

He was then called into the military and served as a radio operator with the US Army during WW II. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home and completed his GED.

Major retired from the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation where he was employed for more than 35 years as an instrument and calibration repairman in the meter room department.

Major was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann Church, Farrell, and a member of its Bethany Club and Holy Name Society. He was also a member of the Italian American War Veterans Association and the Farrell American Legion.

Major had numerable talents and hobbies. He was licensed in short wave and ham radio communications and was a member of the Mercer County Ham Radio Club, call numbers K3IGO. He served as the Shenango Valley meteorology reporter for Stan Boney at WKBN News, Youngstown, Ohio. He enjoyed metal working-blacksmith, machine shop work, welding, leather craft, oil painting, calligraphy, cooking, jewelry making, traveling and gardening which included a grape arbor.

His entrepreneurial spirit encouraged him to start Dalessandro Trading Company, which was an import/export business that specialized in black forest cuckoo clocks imported from Germany; and Tam-Dale Photography. He was also a realtor and inventor. Major had a thirst for knowledge and was an avid reader of medical journals, encyclopedias and philosophy. His most recent purchase was a calculus and trigonometry DVD.

He was the recipient of many awards at Westinghouse for his suggestions in process improvement and innovative ideas. His journalistic talents led him to be the editor of The Holy Name Societies publication, The Word; The Meter Room Meteorites; and the Khaki Keynotes in the Army. Throughout his life, Major completed several correspondence courses and received certificates for successful completion. He was multi-lingual and spoke five languages fluently. Family gatherings were important to him and he was proud to have started the Dalessandro potato roast and the 4th of July picnic, which have become family traditions.

His wife of 56 years, the former Ida R. Palladino, whom he married July 8, 1944, passed away September 30, 2000.

Surviving are: a daughter, Idamarie Felix and her husband John, New Wilmington, PA; two sons, Raymond P. Dalessandro and his wife Gina, Stow, Ohio; and Ronald M. Dalessandro and his wife Michelle, Grand Rapids, Michigan; four grandchildren, Marisa Dalessandro and her boyfriend Louie Pisiani; Alysse Dalessandro, Nick Dalessandro and Alexa Dalessandro; and two brothers, Tony Dalessandro and his wife Anna Mae, founders of Louigi's Pizza, Hermitage; and Lou Dalessandro and his wife Dorothy, Sharon.

Besides his parents and wife, Major was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph and Philip Dalessandro.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann Church, 601 Roemer Blvd., Farrell, PA 16121.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2012, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Mass of Christian burial will be 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 5, 2012, in Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Dennis Dalessandro, nephew, as celebrant.

Interment: St. Anthony Cemetery, Hermitage.