Past state deputy, executive secretary and former fourth degree district master of the Hawaii Knights of Columbus, Victor M. Abbatiello, died Oct. 5 at Kaiser Medical Center in Moanalua. Abbatiello was 86 and a distinguished member of the Knights for 57 years.
Abbatiello was born on Dec. 7, 1930, in Chicago. At 17, he joined the U.S. Navy rising to the rank of chief petty officer. Retiring after 20 years of active service, Abbatiello worked for 20 years as a communications administrator at the Naval Communications Center in Wahiawa. His final retirement, in 1997, was after working for 10 years with the Hawaii First Circuit Court in Honolulu.
Abbatiello joined the Knights of Columbus on Oct. 1, 1960. In his 57 years as a knight, he served in virtually every office of the organization at the local, district and state levels. He was a charter member of the Brother Joseph Dutton Council 7156 at Mary, Star of the Sea Church, Waialae-Kahala, where he and his family were longtime parishioners.
He served four terms (1990-1993 and 1996-1997) as state deputy, the only state deputy in Hawaii to have served four terms. He also served as executive secretary of the Hawaii State Council and Hawaii district master of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
Abbatiello attended 28 Supreme Council conventions in cities throughout the United States and Canada as a delegate and observer.
He is admired and remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather; a man who proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy and who brought honor, dignity and leadership to the Hawaii jurisdiction of the Knights of Columbus.
Victor is survived by his wife of 66 years, Georgia, two daughters Vicky A. Abbatiello and Maria D. Abbatiello, three grandchildren Allan Adler II, Ami Adler and Ma’rin Witt; and two great-grandchildren Riana Adler and Kaulana Kau; his brother Albert Abbatiello; and his cousin Delores Esposito.
