Louis Joseph Amato

   Louis Joseph “Lou” Amato, 92, of 116 Ainsley Road, Hertford, NC, died Monday, March 18, 2024, in Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, Elizabeth City.

   Mr. Amato was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on March 8, 1932, and was the son of the late Joseph and Jennie Parette Amato. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Lessie Perry Amato.

   A retired electronics technician with General Electric, later Lockheed Martin, at their satellite manufacturing facility near Hightstown, NJ, he helped develop and produce early telecommunications satellites such as Satcom, and built the television cameras sent to the moon on the Apollo program. He was a lifelong aviation devotee, attaining his private pilot’s license in 1972, and a very active member and Past Master of the Bound Brook, NJ Masonic Lodge. A Catholic by faith, he served his country with the US Navy in the Korean War.

   Surviving is his wife, Patricia Perry “Pat” Amato; a daughter, Jackie Poarch of Cleveland, TN; three sons, Ronald Amato (wife, Kathie) and Steve Amato (wife, Eleanor), both of Hertford, and Robert Amato (wife, Dee) of Pittsburgh, PA; a sister, Judy Frenick (husband, William) of Sebastian, FL; and a brother, Vito Amato (wife, Aida) of Saint Cloud, FL. Also surviving are Pat’s sons, Dwayne Wiggins, Gerald Wiggins, and Reginald Wiggins. Together Lou and Pat shared 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

   Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 23rd, at 3:00 p.m. in the Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Chapel, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, and will be conducted by the Rev. Logan Perry. The entombment will follow in the Copeland Family Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home, and all other times at the residence.

   Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.