While he was known around Auburn as a former police officer and later chief, Thomas Pisciotti's children will always think of him as an educator.
Pisciotti died Monday at Matthew House at the age of 62 from complications due to a brain tumor.
His youngest, Michele Kmieczak, has favorite memories of boating on Owasco Lake, walking with her father on the beaches in Florida and watching sunsets. Pisciotti was born in Boca Raton, Fla. but moved to Auburn when he was 1 year old.
While the father of three loved leisure activities such as golf, bowling and poker, he liked to stay busy. He retired from the Auburn Police Department in January 1996.
He joined the Auburn Police Department in October 1967, making his way up through the ranks, including captain of detectives and commander of operations before taking the title of police chief.
Two months after retiring, he went to Bosnia-Herzegovina for the following 10 years, training police forces in the aftermath of a civil war for the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance program, a peacemaking organization to teach overseas forces to practice modern policing techniques.
“Even though we missed him, we knew he was making the lives better for many and that made us proud,” his daughter Lori Panek stated.
He returned to Auburn in March 2006 after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, family members said. The grandfather of three was planning on retiring last fall, his son Brian Pisciotti said.
“He was very intelligent, very kind, passionate. If something needed to get done, he would get it done,” Kmieczak said.
Thomas Pisciotti was a great teacher, and took pride in the fact that all three of his children were educators, she said. Kmieczak is a school councilor at East Middle School. Brian Pisciotti is a teacher at West Middle School and Lori Panek is an educator at both schools.
Calling hours are for family only. Langham Funeral Home is handling the funeral which will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Church.
An avid Yankees fan, he enjoyed coaching children's baseball.
“Although he wasn't feeling well, dad made a point of going to as many CCYO basketball games as he could to support and watch David (his grandson),” Panek stated.
All three children have fond memories of their father in their recent weddings.
Brian Pisciotti had his father be his best man at his wedding, and both Kmieczak and Panek recalled with love walking down the aisle with him, despite his illness. Both women were married in 2006.
“He was the smartest guy I ever knew, the best communicator, and a great teacher,” Kmieczak said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
His youngest, Michele Kmieczak, has favorite memories of boating on Owasco Lake, walking with her father on the beaches in Florida and watching sunsets. Pisciotti was born in Boca Raton, Fla. but moved to Auburn when he was 1 year old.
While the father of three loved leisure activities such as golf, bowling and poker, he liked to stay busy. He retired from the Auburn Police Department in January 1996.
He joined the Auburn Police Department in October 1967, making his way up through the ranks, including captain of detectives and commander of operations before taking the title of police chief.
Two months after retiring, he went to Bosnia-Herzegovina for the following 10 years, training police forces in the aftermath of a civil war for the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance program, a peacemaking organization to teach overseas forces to practice modern policing techniques.
“Even though we missed him, we knew he was making the lives better for many and that made us proud,” his daughter Lori Panek stated.
He returned to Auburn in March 2006 after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, family members said. The grandfather of three was planning on retiring last fall, his son Brian Pisciotti said.
“He was very intelligent, very kind, passionate. If something needed to get done, he would get it done,” Kmieczak said.
Thomas Pisciotti was a great teacher, and took pride in the fact that all three of his children were educators, she said. Kmieczak is a school councilor at East Middle School. Brian Pisciotti is a teacher at West Middle School and Lori Panek is an educator at both schools.
Calling hours are for family only. Langham Funeral Home is handling the funeral which will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Church.
An avid Yankees fan, he enjoyed coaching children's baseball.
“Although he wasn't feeling well, dad made a point of going to as many CCYO basketball games as he could to support and watch David (his grandson),” Panek stated.
All three children have fond memories of their father in their recent weddings.
Brian Pisciotti had his father be his best man at his wedding, and both Kmieczak and Panek recalled with love walking down the aisle with him, despite his illness. Both women were married in 2006.
“He was the smartest guy I ever knew, the best communicator, and a great teacher,” Kmieczak said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
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