Alexander D. Yuelys died a resident of Alpine on Nov. 22, 2018.
Alex was born Aug. 12, 1926, in New York City to Dionysus and Anastasia. He grew up on 185th Street in Washington Heights, N.Y., with his brothers and sisters, Helen Albert, Nicholas, George and Evangeline (Beca) Michaels.
Alex enjoyed playing basketball and football in the heights and was a part of the local Boy Scout troop where he was awarded the Order of the Arrow and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Alex attended Peter Stuyvesant High School (Still ranked in the top 10 public highs schools in the country). He graduated in 1944 and enlisted in United States Army Air Force where he achieved the rank of Corporal in the 366th Bomb Squadron. He was an airplane and engine mechanic on the B-17s, AT-16s and also served as a flight engineer on C-45s where he was required to make repairs and adjustments while in flight. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 25, 1946.
Alex enrolled in Hunter College and graduated with a degree in accounting and economics. Later, he passed the CPA exam and received his Masters in finance from Baruch College.
While growing up in Washington Heights, Alex met Nicoletta Lardas whom he dated for several years and married on Dec. 9, 1950.
Alex was initially employed by Arthur Young and Co. and later joined Faberge Inc. Alex became the Treasurer, Vice President, Corporate Controller and finally the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In 1976 he was elected to the Board of Directors of Faberge, Inc.
While at Faberge, Inc., Alex met and became friends with many celebrities who worked for him, including Joe Namath, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Sammy Cahn, Margaux Hemingway. One of his closest friends at work was Cary Grant, who also sat on the Board of Faberge with Alex. Alex together with Cary Grant shared many lunches at the Four Seasons and attended many Yankee games, often joined by Nicoletta. Together Alex and Nicoletta also attended many exciting events including Dean Martin’s celebrity roast of Frank Sinatra at the Friars Club, the Academy Awards and danced at Studio 54 in Manhattan with Cary Grant, Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O’Neal, etc.
After Alex’s retirement from Faberge, Inc., in 1983, he proudly served at St. Michael’s Home in Yonkers on its Board and undertook many other charitable and philanthropic endeavors.
He greatly enjoyed traveling around the world but mostly his time with his family at their beach house in Barnegat Light in Long Beach Island, N.J. There he swam, played tennis and of most importance, played golf with his friends, which he managed to do until only months before his death.
Alex is survived by his wife Nicoletta, their son Jordan and his wife Maria, grandchildren Nicoletta, Adrianna and Alexandra. Alex loved Jordan’s beautiful and caring wife Maria and was thrilled and enlivened by his three beautiful, intelligent, creative and athletic granddaughters with whom he even had the opportunity to play golf. He impressed upon them his steady demeanor, intelligence, quick wit and sense of humor all of which he maintained until his death.
He died as he had always wished, peacefully in his sleep Thanksgiving morning having had dinner with his wife and son the night before. His funeral service was conducted on Nov. 24. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations made to St. Michael’s Home, 3 Lehman Terrace, Yonkers, N.Y. 10705.
