Emileo “Lee” Tolfa, 85, of South Beaver Township, formerly of Aliquippa, died Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 in Heritage Valley Beaver.

           Born Aug. 4, 1924 in Aliquippa, he was the son of the late Angelo and Rosa Vallecorsa Tolfa.  He was a Roman Catholic and a graduate of Duquesne University where he received his Masters Degree.  He had retired from the Ambridge Area School District where he was band director and supervisor of music for many years and was active in the San Rocco festival. While he was the band director in Ambridge the Ambridge band was the very first high school band to be invited to play at Disney World.  In 1946 Lee formed his first 18 piece orchestra and most recently was the leader of the Lee Tolfa Variety Quartet.  He also played for the M.P.I.C., West Aliquippa Band, McKees Rocks Concert Band, Monaca Coronet Band, Ernie Caputo’s Band, Beaver County Wind Ensemble and the Sewickley Symphony.  During World War II he was in the Army Air Force band but he volunteered to leave the band and fight in the infantry. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge with the 9th Armored Division.  He was the recipient of several combat medals.

     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Karen Horstman Tolfa, three brothers, Edward, Leo, and Walter Tolfa, and a sister, Yolanda Wakefield.

He is survived by his former wife Sue Campese Tolfa, Aliquippa, two sons and a daughter-in-law, Angelo Tolfa, David and Cindy Tolfa, all of Hopewell Township, a daughter Mara Yoko, Hampton, VA, two step-daughters and their husbands, Nancy and Todd Aukerman, Cranberry Township, Elizabeth and Robert Lathom, Erie, CO, his grandchildren, Angelo Lee Tolfa II  and Adam Leeland Tolfa, Rachael Tolfa, Sam Tolfa, Ben Tolfa, Christopher and Brandis Yoko, Andrew and Mark Aukerman, Emily Latham, and a great-granddaughter Raelynn Tolfa.

  Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Hill & Kunselman Funeral Home, www.hillandkunselman.com., 3801-4th Ave., College Hill, where prayers will be recited Friday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Philomena Catholic Church with Rev. Father James B. Farnan as celebrant.

Interment will be private.

          The family would like special thanks to the women of “Home Instead” for their loving care and comfort they gave to Lee.

         In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, if desired, to Alzheimer’s Association, Southwest Region, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Suite E-201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or to San Rocco Cultural Committee,  41/2 Cedar Ave., Aliquippa, PA 15001

        The Beaver County Special Unit will meet at the funeral home on Friday at 9:15 a.m. to conduct military rites.