 As a young man he worked for Western Union and briefly as a machinist for Remington Arms in New York.Following the start of World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lazzaro was called to active U.S. Navy duty shortly after graduating from the New York Maritime College.He served in the Pacific theater aboard the attack transport USS "DuPage" (APA-41) and troop transport USS "General Pope", eventually becoming chief engineer of his ship.