Our Uncle Vince was born of Italian immigrants here in south Philly, and other than his time spent overseas in WW2, he didn’t venture far from the area.

He lived a simple life, never marrying and not having any children. But just because he had no children does not mean he has no legacy.

He was a kind, calm and gentle man, who’s nickname was “legs” because he towered of most of his siblings.

Godfather to myself and many of us, he shared with us his love of photography, nature, and motorcycles.

I will remember uncle Vince for the quality time we spent together. The time spent in the darkroom he built in his basement on Tasker Street, where he taught me how to develop 35mm black and white film. The canoe trip through the pine barons in NJ, where I can still taste that bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on soft white bread. Our trip to historic Fort Mifflin, and the hikes to a place he referred to as the Gaza Strip, which I think was an undeveloped area near the Philly airport, and I’ll never forget that ride on his Harley Davidson Sportster, when I was about ten years old.

It is because of you, uncle Vince, that today I take pictures everywhere I go, I’ve hiked and camped many of the mountains on the east coast, and ride a Harley Davidson motorcycle, as do my brother and my cousins, some who are no longer with us, and that to this day I carry my wallet in my back left pocket, because you told me that my right back pocket is where I should keep my pocket knife.
He is the last of his siblings to pass, but his legacy lives on in myself and in all of us through our memories. Thank you, uncle Vince, for your guidance and friendship as we were growing up. I hope that you are together again with your family in heaven, taking pictures of beautiful scenery, and riding a motorcycle on an endless highway.

Finally, I would like to thank our cousins who stepped in to assist uncle Vince after aunt Pam passed away. You were the key to his quality of life as he aged when he was no longer able to do things for himself, enabling him to stay in the home he loved until nearly the end of his life. Taking him food shopping, for haircuts, doctors’ appointments, etc. You embody the true meaning of family, and for that we are all grateful.

Uncle Vince,
I wanted people to know that you were much more than the Obituary provided. Yes, you were a soldier in WW II and yes you worked as a mechanic responsible for the machines used in the knitting mill, but you were so much more. All of your nieces and nephews have memories of you teaching us how to ride on your Vesper motor scooter and then later your Harley Sportster. In fact, you are probably the reason the Bilotta nephews Vinnie, Tommy, Joey, Frankie, not mention GG, Joey and me all owned a motorcycle.
I remember reading all your popular science and popular mechanic magazines that you had at Grandma’s house, you were always wanting to know about the latest innovations and inventions.
The memories of the whole family, and it was a big family, you had brothers ( Sammy,Frankie, Tommy, Joey and Jimmy. Then there were the sisters (Angie, Rosie Marie, Margie, Lena, Dorothy and Pam), all crowded into that small house on Tasker st on Sunday to have dinner and visit with Grandmom. We all have memories of you keeping the peace between uncle Joe and uncle Jimmy, and you did it without any yelling or hollering. It was just the respect your younger brothers had for you that a quiet word was all that was needed.
We remember you as the official photographer of the family, somewhere in Tasker St. there are lifetimes of memories. Photos and 8 mm films of us as children from the 40’s and 50’s and 60’s that, hopefully we will all get to see. The sad part is you are not in most of them because you were unselfishly recording our family history for all of us to see and reminisce over.
Yes, Vincent Bilotta you lived a long and interesting life and will be missed by all of your family, but we know you are in a better placed with the ones who love you dearly.

Vincent C.