Rinaldo Brolli

He was born in Rimini, Italy on October 2, 1925 to Publio and Luisa (Sapignoli) Brolli. He grew up with his two sisters, Raffaella and Edda Lucia in a very happy upbringing. Rimini was a tourist destination, and he began working in hotels there during his teenage years. When Mussolini aligned Italy with Hitler’s Nazi Germany, Rinaldo and his family fled Italy for Tripoli, Libya where he met his future wife of 73 years, Rosanna (Giombini) Brolli. The two soulmates met in an English class they had together. Rinaldo continued his work in hotels while he got a degree in Bookkeeping, and soon after Rinaldo and Rosanna got married.

After marriage, he opened his own import/export business in Libya and became very successful. He maintained this success until Gaddafi came to power and seized his business and deported all of the non-native Libyans out of the country. Rinaldo and his wife returned to Italy, and settled in Padua where he reopened his import/export business. They settled there until retirement, then decided to move to Hampton, Virginia in 1982. They enjoyed retirement in America, became American citizens, and travelled all across the country to see all it had to offer. He turned his lifelong passion for gardening into a part time job at McDonald's Nursery until fully retiring for a second time. Rinaldo was active in the Knights of Columbus and in the Order Sons of Italy in America. He was a man of many talents, and offered them freely to those who needed them.

He is preceded in death by his parents; both sisters; his wife; his nephew, Richard Soule; and his brothers and sisters in law, Andrea Bauchensky, Wayne Baker, and Annamaria Soule (Giombini). He is survived by his sister in law, Giovanna Baker (Giombini); his nephews and nieces: Mark Soule (Cheryl), Maurizio Bauchensky (Giuseppina), and Linda and Mildred Baker; his great-nephews: Adam, Justin, and Austin Soule; and great-nieces: Elena Bauchensky and Erin Soule.

Rinaldo will eternally rest alongside his wife, Rosanna in his family crypt back home in Italy. A memorial mass will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Buckroe.