Worcester- Albert A. "Al Youngman" Yodzonis, 89, of 18 Crane Street, died Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Apple Valley Nursing Home, Ayer.
His wife, Angela J. (Sidlauskas) Yodzonis, died in 1996. He leaves a nephew, Arnold J. Antak of Groton. A brother, Benjamin F. Yodzonis, died in 1987. He was born in Brockton, son of John and Annie (Andrews) Yodzonis and lived in Worcester most of his life. He graduated from Commerce High School and attended the Berkley School of Music.
He was a self-employed musician, working under the name of Al Youngman. The Al Youngman Band participated at all Worcester Holiday and special occasions.
He directed groups at county and state fairs throughout the east and midwest. Among the artists that appeared with his orchestra were The Lennon Sisters, The Maguire Sisters, Bobby Vinton, Myron Floren, Arthur Godfrey, Jimmy Dean, Bobby Rydel, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Neil Sedaka, The Four Lads, Englebert Humperdink, and others.
He was the band leader of the Hamid-Morton, Don Fransico, and L.N. Fleckes Circuses. He also was the band leader for the Shrine Circuses in Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio.
He played trumpet at the Worcester Theater, Elm Street Theater, Plymouth Theater, and Palace Theater. He maintained a trumpet-trombone studio at Front and Main Streets.
Mr. Yodzonis played with the Mal Hallett Orchestra, the Worcester Symphony, the Harry Levenson Orchestra, and appeared as a trumpet soloist during the rendition of the Messiah.
He served four terms as President of the Worcester Musicians' Association, Local 143, and was a former member of it's Executive Board for many years.
Mr. Yodzonis was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, serving with the 181st and 385th Infantry Regiments, and saw combat in the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. He earned four medals and two bronze stars.
He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish, where he was a lector, song leader, and member of the choir.
The funeral will be held Friday, Nov. 22, from Dirsa-Morin Funeral Home (www.worcesterfuneral.com), 298 Grafton Street, with a Mass at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1290 Grafton Street. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. Calling hours are 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in the funeral home.