Alexander “Al” F. Turlo, 88 years old, died January 21, 2009 at the Brockton VA Medical Center. He was the husband of the late Greta (Atkin) Turlo, his war bride from England. He was born and raised in Salem, MA.
During WWII, Al served with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne as a sergeant in the Parachute Infantry. On D-Day, as a Pathfinder, he was one of the very first paratroopers to land in Normandy behind enemy lines. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his heroism. He received numerous awards during the war; including a second Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge. He was an ex-POW and at the end of the war served as an interpreter helping to liberate survivors from the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Following his military service, he received his degree from Shrivenham University in England and Burdett College in Boston. Al had been employed as an auditor for State Street Bank and First National Bank of Yarmouth. He was an avid sports fan, especially of the Boston Red Sox, loved his dogs, fishing, and was a member of the DAV.
He was the devoted father of Peter Turlo and his wife Anne Marie of Hopkinton and Patricia Balentine and her husband Jeff of Kentucky; loving grandfather of Michael and Mark Turlo, Rhiannon Kauffeld and her husband Bryan, and great-grandfather of Tyler and Ashlyn. Al was one of 13 siblings and is survived by William Turlo of Peabody and Martha Houle of N. Andover.
Burial with military honors will follow a private family service at the Massachusetts National Cemetery. Donations would be greatly appreciated in memory of Al for the wonderful care our men and women veterans receive from the Veterans Administration Community Living Center, c/o Volunteer Department, 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301.