EMIL PANICHI, 92, died at his home in Millbrook on May 4, 2025. He was predeceased by his father, Luigi Panichi, his mother, Elisa Panichi, and his wife of 65 years, Emily Panichi, who died in 2019. Emil is survived by his daughters, Elisa (James) Popovich and Evelyn Panichi; his grandchildren, James Popovich, Jr., Kristi (Scott) Brien, Emil Constantino (Dr. Hope Harvey), Matthew Constantino, and Elisabeth Constantino; and his great grandchildren, Emily Brien and Benjamin Brien.

Emil was born on February 4, 1933 in Ascoli Piceno in the Central Italian province of Le Marche. His father, Luigi, left Italy for the United States in 1938, prospecting for a better life for his family. Shortly thereafter, World War II broke out, cutting off Luigi from his family. Emil's childhood took place in impoverished Nazi-occupied Italy, during which time he witnessed the occupation of his family farm. Emil and Elisa were only reunited with Luigi in 1948 after the end of the war, having survived a difficult decade of separation.

Upon arriving in the United States, a 15-year-old Emil was placed in the first grade on account of the low level of his English. Nevertheless, he proceeded to graduate from high school the next year. Outside of school, Emil supported his family by making grocery deliveries. From this young age, Emil learned to make his living by picking up and delivering goods for people, which is to say: by providing a universally valuable service to the members of the community where he lived.

In 1955, recently married to Emily, and newly a father to Elisa, Emil bought a small garbage company in Hopewell Junction while living in the Bronx somewhat optimistically called Royal Carting. At the time Emil bought Royal Carting, the company owned a single truck and a list of about 200 customers. Although Emil's primary responsibilities were managerial, he was known to his customers for driving the truck to pick up and empty the trash himself when drivers would call out sick-often at night after he had worked a full day at the office.

Emil, Emily, and their daughter Elisa moved to Dutchess County in 1963, where they were soon joined by another daughter, Evelyn, who was born four years later.

Under Emil's leadership over the next seven decades, Royal Carting (and its companion company Welsh Sanitation) grew from a one-truck operation to a 200+ truck operation that includes state-of-the art processing facilities. In that time, Royal's original workforce of 2 grew to over 200 employees, and its original clientele of 200 grew to over 70,000 valued local customers. Emil considered a countless number of his longstanding and loyal colleagues among his closest friends-to say nothing of his daughters, Elisa and Evelyn, who spent their entire careers at Royal Carting working to support and expand Emil's vision. Up until the family's sale of the business in 2024, Emil, though no longer driving a truck, continued to possess a fierce, competitive work ethic and a keen focus on providing superior customer service at a fair price.

Emil's neighbors were not simply his customers; they were his community, and he was happy to serve them. Over the years, Emil and Emily supported innumerable local charities, hospitals, scholarship programs, civic societies, and families in need. Much of Emil's philanthropy was private and unpublicized, and he did not seek-though he nonetheless received-many public awards for his efforts.

The greatest reward for Emil's hard work and deep involvement in his community were his many friends-who came second only to his family. At the center of Emil's identity was his family, and he took great joy in presiding over his kitchen dinner table surrounded by loved ones whenever he could. Emil was also a talented amateur sportsman who enjoyed and excelled at tennis, skiing, and cycling. (He was, however, not much of a mariner; Emil briefly and ignominiously owned a small recreational boat that he christened the Egabrag, whose best times were enjoyed while she was safely docked at the marina.) His ski trips were particularly rich sources of family fun, and he delighted in racing his grandchildren and great grandchildren down the slopes well into his eighties. Emil traveled extensively into his nineties, returning to his native Le Marche frequently, where he especially enjoyed spending time with his extended family in the region.

Although Emil's travels are over, the memory of his life and works will continue to roam. His family is grateful for the example he has set.

Calling hours will be Thursday, May 8, between 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Columba Church, 835 Hopewell Junction, NY, on Friday, May 9, at 10 a.m.

Persons wishing to make memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may do so to the Panichi Family Charitable Foundation Attn: Dave Andros, Foundation Source, 55 Walls Dr., 3rd Floor, Fairfield, CT 06824, or Hudson Valley Hospice, 542 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538.

Please visit Emil's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.