LOREAUVILLE  - Memorial service for Ret. Lt. Col. Peter F. Fazio, 66, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Buddy Breaux officiating.

A memorial gathering to follow at his daughter’s residence. Peter has made the honorable decision to donate his body to medical science.

A native of Joliet, Illinois and a resident of New Iberia, Lt. Col. Fazio passed away peacefully Sunday, May 11, 2008, in Lafayette with his family by his side.

Advertisement

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Diane Downey Fazio; two daughters, Toni Fazio Gonsoulin and husband Shannon, and Andre Fazio Miller and husband Ramsey; five grandchildren, Taylor, John, Anna and Joshua Gonsoulin and Abigail Miller; and four siblings.

Lt. Col. Fazio was preceded in death by his parents, Peter A. and Florence Allocco Fazio.

Peter graduated from Joliet Central High School and then was selected to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he graduated with honors. Early in his military career, Peter honored his country by courageously serving 2 1/2 years in the Vietnam War. Peter was an electronic warfare officer in B-52 warplanes and was among the first group of soldiers to cross during his military career. The first, from USC in Systems Management and the second, from the Air Force Institute of Technology, in Logistics Management. Both Master’s Degrees held a 4.0 grade point average. During this time, Peter also completed a Master’s thesis that was eventually published and put into action by the United States Air Force. Among his many posts while in the Air Force, Peter was an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at USC where upon reassignment The Faz Award was created to honor and recognize his unmatched hard work and respect of his subordinates. Eventually Peter received his final military assignment at The United States Pentagon in Washington, D.C. where he was a Deputy Commander in the Research and Develop-ment department. It was here where a brain tumor was found and Peter was diagnosed with brain cancer thus ending his career of 20 years. After receiving superior medical treatment at Bethesa Hospital in Maryland, Peter and his wife relocated to Pineville to raise their young daughters. After his daughters had completed their college careers and began to start families of their own, Peter and Diane decided to move to New Iberia to be closer to their grandchildren.

Peter received many awards during his lifetime and belonged to several elite organizations including: Distinguished Flyers Cross with one oak left cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with three silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters, CMBT Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, Republic of Vietnam Cam-paign Medal, VFW Lifetime Member, Reserve Officers Association Lifetime Mem-ber, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society of North America, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Sigma Iota Epsilon Honorary Management Fraternity.

Friends and family may contact Peter’s family for detailed information at www.rarie101@yahoo.com.