Louis Vilardi, 88

Louis J. Vilardi of Montauk, a piano tuner whose clients ranged from local schools to high-profile residents such as Chevy Chase, died of cancer on Sept. 11 at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Quiogue. He was 88. 

Mr. Vilardi, who had summered in Montauk as far back as 1968, helped build a house there that would become his permanent home in 1978. He also had a winter residence in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

 “His family, Montauk, and the beach were most important to him,” his daughter, Patricia Macarthy of Montauk, said. He was member of Montauk’s St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church and loved body-surfing in the ocean.

He was born in Brooklyn on Oct. 8, 1929, to the former Jenny Lipani and Louis Vilardi Sr., and grew up in the Beechhurst neighborhood of Queens. His father taught him to tune pianos, and he made it his profession after graduating from high school. He joined the Army in 1951 and served for six years, during which he was primarily stationed in Europe. 

In 1953, he married Beatrice Macaluso. The couple lived in Huntington Station, where they raised five children. She died before him.

In addition to his daughter, who once worked at  The East Hampton Star, Mr. Vilardi is survived by his sons: James Vilardi and Robert Vilardi, both of Centereach, John Vilardi of Leesburg, Fla., and Richard Vilardi of Ronkonkoma. Seventeen grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren also survive.  

A wake was held on Sept. 14 at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. The Rev. Tom Murray of St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Montauk officiated at a funeral Mass on Sept 15. Burial followed at Fort Hill Cemetery in Montauk. The family has suggested donations to Honor Flight, a veterans group, at honorflight.org, or to the Kanas Center for Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978.