Alfonse Peter Acciani Born to Michael and Rebecca Palermo Acciani on October 18, 1925 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Alfonse Peter Acciani passed away February 5, 2014 having spent much of his professional and private life in Columbia County. Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force cadet flying program he was honorably discharged and entered St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY graduating in 1949 with a B.S. in biology. He attended the University of Buffalo Dental School and after graduation in 1954 interned at Queens General Hospital where he performed surgery and general dentistry. Moving to Claverack, NY the next year he took over the dental practice of Dr. Martin Varley at 545 Warren Street in Hudson, NY, and in 1966 moved his growing practice to 66 Green Street.  After forty years "Dr. Al" retired on October 1, 1995 only to work later for the NYS Dept. of Health, Office of Health Insurance reviewing prior authorization requests. He was a member of the Columbia Memorial Hospital dental surgical staff and a member and President of the Columbia County Dental Society. He also served as President of the 3rd District Dental Society in the early 1960's, and with the Dental Peer Review Committee. Interested in local health and environmental issues he served on Govenor Carey's Alcohol Board, responsible for Columbia County's first annual "Turn Around Ball." Also he was a former member of the Hudson Jaycees, the Town of Ghent Zoning Board, the Chatham PTA, and served for years on the board of directors of Home Savings and Loan Bank, Hudson, NY. His volunteer work included time with Catholic Charities in Honduras, Central America where he performed mostly dental surgery in a town that had no electrical power. He worked with Dr. Stanley Bardwell in an innovative program which provided dental exams and education to migrant workers in Columbia County.  Besides being an avid golfer and sailor for many years he was a ski instructor for the Disabled Ski Program in Windham, NY working primarily with amputees and blind people. Pre-deceased by his third wife Jean M. Acciani, and his siblings, Raffaella Lombardo, Anne Olsen, Sylvia Caruana, Joan Donofrio and Daniel Acciani, he is survived by his three children, Susan, Stephen and David and four grandchildren, Emma, Maria, Anna and Alice, his sister Marie Backus from Port Jefferson, NY and many nieces and nephews and devoted friends and patients. Arrangements are with French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home, Chatham with a mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 11:00am at St. James Church, Chatham, NY. There will be no calling hours and internment will be at the convenience of the family. Donations can be made in Dr. Acciani's name to the Claverack Library or to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Northeastern NY Chapter, 950 New Loudon Rd., Latham, NY 12110. To convey a condolence visit frenchblasl.com.