CNN —Robert Persichitti, a 102-year-old World War II US Navy veteran, died last week while on his way to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, according to Honor Flight Rochester, a veteran’s organization. Persichitti was a “wonderful, pleasant, humble guy,” who was “easy know, easy to talk to,” said Honor Flight Rochester President and CEO Richard Stewart, who told CNN he learned of his friend’s death last Friday. Persichitti fell ill last week during a stop in Germany while headed for Normandy, Al DeCarlo, a friend who was traveling with Persichitti, told CNN affiliate WHAM. “She put his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, on her phone and he peacefully left us.”Persichitti had heart problems in the past, “but for 102, I would say he was in superb health,” Stewart told CNN. Persichitti enjoyed traveling and speaking with younger generations about his experiences, often visiting schools to talk with students about World War II, his friend, Pastor William Leone, told WHAM.

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Persons: Robert Persichitti, Persichitti, ”, Richard Stewart, “, Stewart, Nazi Germany —, Al DeCarlo, DeCarlo, ” DeCarlo, Frank Sinatra, ” Persichitti, ” Stewart, Bob’s, Pastor William Leone, WHAM, ” Leone Organizations: CNN, US Navy, Normandy —, New York, Veterans Hall of Fame, SUNY Buffalo Locations: France, Normandy, Nazi Germany, Pacific, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Guam, Germany, Pittsburgh, Rochester , New York