William "Lefty" Poce

William VG “Lefty” Poce, 89, longtime Worcester resident passed away Saturday, November 21st 2015 with family gathered at his bedside.     Lefty was born in Worcester, April 3rd 1926, the son of Christo and Persifoni Poce.  He grew up in Worcester, joined the U.S. Navy during WW II, serving proudly in the South Pacific, taking part in the battles of Iwo Jima, Saipan and Okinawa.   Notably, Lefty was stationed on the USS Cossatot outside Pearl Harbor when it was attacked.   Upon his discharge, Lefty accepted a position with the Crompton-Knowles Company where he worked for 33 years, before accepting a similar position with the Heald Machine, Division of Cincinnati Milacron for another 10 years before retiring.     Lefty is survived by his son, William F. Poce of Leicester; his daughter, Janet A LaRonde and her husband George of Worcester; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Michelle, Michael, Mason, Mark, Christina and George; seven great-grandchildren.  A son Michael S. Poce, two daughters, Donna Marie Campomizzi and Kathleen Mathisen, a grandson, William LaRonde and a sister, Demitra Peters pre deceased him.     Lefty was a member of St Peters Church. The Heald Machine Retirees Association and the Greendale Retired Men’s Club.  In his youth Lefty, was a semi pro baseball pitcher, industrial leagues and Crompton Knowles champion Bowler and a present Day Huge Sports fan of all the New England Teams.   Funeral and relatives are invited to visit with the family during calling hours, Friday, November 27th from 4:00pm to 6:30pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St.  A prayer service will follow at 6:30 pm.  Burial in Pine Grove Cemetery in Boylston will be private.  In lieu of flowers memorial remembrances in his name can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 150 Cambridge Park Drive, Suite 202, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140,   www.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate