Former soldier now serves family

BRACKENRIDGE -- Antonio Lopreiato carried a small suitcase stuffed with toddler-sized clothing, legal documents, and his son's favorite toys while stationed with the Army in Okinawa, Japan.

The suitcase was carried like a security blanket, day-in and day-out, in the event that he would be called to duty and have to leave his son, young Antonio Lopreiato, with a family friend or board him on a plane back to Brackenridge to stay with his brother.

Lopreiato became a single father when a nine-year marriage mutually ended. Because he was already established in a career, the couple decided that then 18-month-old Antonio would stay with his father.

"Antonio's mother at the time was working the night shift at a warehouse," he said. "It was an hourly job and a day-care would be hard to find care for him through the night."

After serving for 21 years as an ammunition specialist, Lopreiato decided that it was time to retire for the sake of his son.

"It was very hard at times," he said, "I would have to wake young Antonio up at 5 a.m. and make sure he was at day-care by 5:30 in order to make it to work on time. I just needed some family time, some son time."

Watching his son grow up into the 5-year-old young boy that he is now has been a joy for Lopreiato.

"I can remember Tony, as a toddler, jumping onto the back of Tracer, our yellow Labrador retriever, and riding him around the house holding on to the dog's ears, laughing and giggling the whole time," he said with a grin that reached from ear to ear. But the unsurmountable energy, good or bad, that Antonio has never tires Lopreiato.

"No matter how bad he was on a particular day, it is all forgotten when he gives me a hug and kiss at night before bed and says, 'I love you, Daddy,'" Lopreiato said placing his hand over his heart.

For Lopreiato the role of being a single father has been hard. There has been times when he has had to answer such questions as "When is Mommy coming home?"

"Hearing questions like that just breaks my heart because he is too young to understand," Lopreiato said.

The best advice that he could give to other single fathers is to have patience with their children and be a part of their lives.

"Don't be all about work," he said. "Before you know it, your kids will be grown up."

Reflecting back to when he came home from the Army last May, the words that his mother, Mary Lopreiato, told him that day stand out vividly in his mind.

She said, "The Army has had you more years than I have. Now it is my time."

For Lopreiato, it is not only his mother's time.

It's also his time to learn more about his son by putting the small suitcase on the shelf and taking each day without a worry and a simple smile, hug and kiss as young Antonio turns to get on the school bus for a day away from his idol, his father.

Additional Information:

Antonio Lopreiato

Age: 39.

Hometown: Brackenridge.

Family: Son, Antonio; parents, Mary and Guiseppe Lopreiato; brothers, Dominick, Bruno and Dino Lopreiato.

Occupation: Retired Army ammunition specialist; helps part-time in family bakery, Vibos, in Brackenridge.

Hobbies: Sports, fishing, and being with his family.

Shoe size: 7 1/2.