Harlan J. Infantine

Funeral services for Harlan J. Infantine, 84, of Canterbury Lane, Canton, will be held on Monday, August 3, 2009 at 11:00am at St. Mary's Church in Canton, with Rev. Douglas Lucia, Pastor, celebrating. Burial in St. Mary's Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family. Mr. Infantine passed away Thursday, morning, July 30, 2009 at the United Helpers Canton Nursing Home following a brief illness.
Friends may call at the O'Leary Funeral Home on Sunday, August 2, 2009 from 4-8pm. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to The Infantine Scholarship Fund, c/o St. Lawrence University, specifically for needy North Country Students to attend St. Lawrence University ; St. Mary's School, Canton; or the St. Lawrence County Historical Association.
Mr. Infantine is survived by his wife, Patricia Webb Infantine; his four children, by a previous marriage to Betty Jane Robbins: son, Michael Infantine and his partner Paula Rodriguez, Long Beach, Mississippi; daughter Cheryl and Edward Rockett, Foxboro, MA; Son Peter and Susan Infantine, Andover, MA; daughter Suzanne and Stephen D'Angelo, Franklin, MA; eight grandchildren, Scott Bickley, John Rockett, Patrick Rockett, Heidi Richards, Katie Infantine, Joshua Infantine, Jennifer D'Angelo, and Mark D'Angelo; a brother William and Patricia Infantine of Manlius, NY; a sister Marilyn Infantine Mintener and Bradshaw Mintener of Canton; sister-in-law Sue Infantine Brown of Naples, FL and many devoted nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a sister, Helene Infantine and a brother Richard Infantine.
He was born November 1, 1924 in Canton, the son of the late William J. and Lena (LaDuke) Infantine. Mr. Infantine was a member of the first class, 1938, of St. Mary's Elementary School, Canton. He was a varsity letterman in Football, Baseball, Basketball and Track at Canton High School, where he graduated from in 1942. At the age of 18, he and brother, Bill, volunteered together for service in WWII, where Harlan was a B52 U.S. Air Force gunner in the European Theatre and Bill served in the Marines in the Far East. In 1944 Mr. infantine and his brother returned to Canton from the war, and under the G.I. Bill, both entered St. Lawrence University, where Harlan graduated in 1949.
Mr. Infantine served for a number of years on the St. Lawrence University Alumni Council and as his 1949 Class Reporter. He retired in 1988 from his position as National Sales Manager from The Borden Company and moved to Manlius, NY and then to Skaneateles, NY. He also held a number of previous sales positions for various companies.
Mr. Infantine belonged to: Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) College Fraternity; Canton Town and St. Lawrence County Democratic Committees; Canton Area Zonta Club; and the St. Lawrence County Historical Association as a member and an active volunteer. Known by many as "Hark", always with a smile and a friendly sense of humor, Mr. Infantine enjoyed fly fishing, golfing, reading, bird watching, attending St. Lawrence University football games, men's and women's hockey and basketball games and his niece Natasha Bell's Canton High School softball, basketball and soccer games.