LOUIS E. "LOU" PAGANO

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Born on September 19, 1954, in Long Island City, NY Lou was the son of Paul and Josephine Pagano. He met his wife in grade school in Queens, separating for high school and college only to reunite again years later in an elevator in Manhattan. His 46-year career at Merrill Lynch took him and his family first from New York to the Philly area, then to Central NJ and the Lehigh Valley, and eventually Harleysville, PA. With every move, he remained true to his New York roots and friendships while at the same time creating a new life in each community. Never at a loss for words, he made friends wherever he went with his commanding presence and an infectious laugh. 

 

He had a sometimes tough and analytical exterior with a protective, generous heart, and his family and friends were most important to him.  Lou loved sports and never strayed from the Yankees or Jets. He enjoyed playing softball and golf and played with everyone from the neighborhood friends to his co-workers and later his grandchildren. He loved to travel with his wife and friends and had even more fun retelling their stories.

 

After being diagnosed with cancer, he continued to inspire those around him with his courage and his larger-than-life personality; Italian cookies for the nurses didn’t hurt either. From one clinical trial to the next, he beat his odds to the point where his wife nicknamed him the Miracle Man.

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Throughout his treatment, he advocated for bladder cancer awareness and the importance of clinical trials. He even traveled to the headquarters of one of the drug manufacturers and made a lasting impression on the researchers and scientists who continue to work to develop treatments and a cure.

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On October 18, 2017, Lou lost his battle with cancer after being hospitalized with a bout of sepsis.

 

​Lou is survived by his immediate family; Evon, Alissa, Joe, John, Jackie, grandchildren Aidan, Gavin, Nico, and Luca, and the family that he created through lifelong friendships like the Vessillos and Mihaliks.