WILMINGTON — Leo Beltracchi, 86, of Wilmington, N.C., passed away on Nov., 2, 2016, after living a full life. He was born in Rochester, N.Y., on April 13, 1930, to Cirillo and Cesarina Beltracchi, who immigrated to the U.S. from Edolo, Italy.
Upon graduation from East Rochester High School in 1948, Leo went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., and then spent a tour of duty as an engineer in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Korean War. He then returned to the U.S. and earned a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY.
He worked on the space program in the 1960’s in Connecticut and Massachusetts and in 1974 took a job with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Bethesda, MD. While at the NRC, he was awarded U.S. Patent 6163740 on December 19, 2000, for an iconic display for nuclear power plant operators. He also earned a Federal Engineer of the Year award based on his dedication to his profession.
Leo met his wife Mary Ann met on a ski trip in Vermont with the Newington Ski Club in the late 1950s and were married on June 27, 1959. They introduced all three of their boys to skiing and they continued skiing into the 1990s. Leo’s favorite run was Sneaky’s at Snowmass in Colorado.
Leo & Mary Ann moved to Porter’s Neck in Wilmington in 1999 to enjoy retirement. He spent many years golfing with the new friends that he made at Porter’s Neck, traveling with other couples from the neighborhood and volunteering to seniors with their taxes. He also enjoyed investing in the stock market and studying the ways of Warren Buffett.
Leo is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann and three sons, Michael of Edwards, Colo., Todd (Mary Ellen) of Colorado Springs, Colo., and John of Avon, Colo.; his sister Lillian and her husband Franco of Orzinuovi, Italy; grandchildren Shawn (Jennifer) Beltracchi of Spring, Texas, Anthony (Hailey Rollins) Beltracchi of Avon, Colo.; Philip Beltracchi of Salt Lake City, Utah and Sharon Beltracchi of Mountain View, Calif.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov 11, at 11 a.m., at St Mark Catholic Church in Wilmington, followed by a reception at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st, Suite 100, Miami, FL 33131.
