Colonel Ceresi began his military career in 1933 when he attended Officer Candidate School in his native Boston. He served in the infantry and landed with Allied troops in the opening days of the invasion of Europe at Normandy.

While serving as a company commander, he was wounded and was evacuated to England. He later returned to his unit and fought in the liberation of Paris.

Colonel Ceresi also served in the infantry in Korea during the war there.

In the 1950s, he lived in Germany, where he was a liaison to the Air Force. He was on the staff of 5th Army Headquarters in Chicago when he retired from active military duty in 1961.

He moved to Alexandria, where he and a friend from the service opened an antiques store called the Delightful Muddle. They ran the store for about a year before Col. Ceresi took a full-time teaching position at the engineering school. He taught at the school for 14 years until 1976.

His interests included marine art and baseball history.

His wife of 48 years, Katherine A. Ceresi, died in 1995.

Survivors include two children, Pamela Lemmonds of Potomac and Frank J. Ceresi of Arlington; and four grandchildren.

Of Alexandria, Virginia, on March 12, 2004. Beloved husband of the late Katherine A. Ceresi; father of Pamela C. Lemmonds of Potomac, MD and Frank J. Ceresi of Arlington, Virginia. Also survived by four grandchildren, Kimberly Lemmonds Henry, Christine Redinger, Daniel Ceresi and Nicole Ceresi.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 19, at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel at 10:45 a.m. Burial will follow at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, 108 N. Alfred St., Alexandria, Virginia 22314.