Gene Vitantonio

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1. OBITUARY OF GENE VITANTONIO

Gene Vitantonio age 88, U.S. Naval Lieutenant Veteran WWII. Beloved husband of Diva (nee Ferrante)(deceased) and Martha "Marti" (Rossi); dearest father of Robert (Lenore), Dennis (deceased) (Susan) and Marc Sr. (Lisa); devoted grandfather of Daniel, Claudia, Marc Jr. and Dan "Linaye" Chan; dear brother of Albino and Estro (both deceased). Contributions may be made in Gene's memory to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44119. Mass of Christian Burial Monday December 27, 2010 at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Entombment All Souls Cemetery.

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2. BIOGRAPHICAL TRIBUTE, BY DANIEL VITANTONIO, GRANDSON

Gene R. Vitantonio was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of three sons to Luigi and Catherine Vitantonio of Ripalimosani, Italy. He studied mechanical engineering at the Case School of Applied Science and the U.S. Naval Academy. Gene was commissioned as an Ensign in April 1944 and served as an engineering officer on the USS LST 824, which was stationed in the Pacific and anchored near Okinawa in 1945. He left the Navy in 1946 with the rank of Lt.(jg). Gene’s tour of duty included Japan, Guam, several of the Philippine islands, San Diego, and Portland, Oregon.

Beginning in 1947, Gene was an engineer at Pesco Products and Reliance Electric Company. He joined Vitantonio Manufacturing Company in 1956, where he spent 27 years leading the company as partner with his brother Estro. Beginning in 1987, he worked with his sons in founding and leading VillaWare Mfg. Co. until 2004. Over more than 40 years in product design, Gene was widely recognized as a leader within the housewares industry. A life article of his career appeared in the CWRU magazine. His numerous product designs include the “Pizzelle Chef” confection baker, Panini grills, noodle machines, Belgian wafflers, and various Disney waffle bakers. His VillaWare UNO product line received national awards in industrial design and became a standard among small electrical appliances.

In 1950, Gene married Diva M. Ferrante (1928-1999) of South Euclid. They were married 49 years and had three sons, Robert (b. 1952), Dennis (1956-1996), and Marc (b. 1958). The family was very active in the Gates Mills community, with many close neighborhood friends. In the 1960’s, Gene sang in the choir and was president of the Holy Name Society at St. Francis of Assisi. Gene and Diva enjoyed yearly trips to Marco Island, Florida. Gene always loved boating and did so frequently, both in Florida and in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, where he kept a 23-foot overnight cruiser. Gene traveled to 28 countries during his life, including a 2006 trip to Ripalimosani to conduct research for an historical memoir spanning four generations of the Vitantonio family, from 1906 to 2006.

In 2004 and at the age of 82, Gene married Marti C. Rossi. Their love and devotion to one another and the strength they drew from their common life experiences were inspiring. Gene was known for his vibrancy and love of life, appreciation for both athletic and artistic talent, his sharp wit and sense of humor, and an innate creativity that was manifest both in his career and in hobbies like woodworking and photography. He had an original and elegant solution to any puzzle that confronted him, and he always welcomed new challenges in life. Most importantly, Gene was eternally devoted to his family and was a constant advocate to the achievements of his children and grandchildren. In his valiant causes, Gene’s impatience in the face of barriers was tempered with sincere humanity. This made him so endearing to those whom he loved.

Daniel Vitantonio

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EULOGY FROM FUNERAL, BY MARC VITANTONIO, SON

Life with dad was full of simple lessons.

Many of these lessons were summarized with simple phrases.

For example… Follow the plans.

Sometime in my early grade school years, mom and dad bought me an erector set for Christmas. I recall hastily opening the kit, throwing the instructions aside and starting to create a structure. After about an hour of building - I showed dad my project. It was barely capable of supporting its own weight. Dad expected more and urged me to build a project from plans in the instruction manual. I immediately browsed the manual and found plans for a bridge. After hours of assembly the bridge was complete – built according to the plan. That event kicked-off my life long obsession with plans.

Another simple phrase was… Measure twice, cut once.

Sometime later in my early grade school years, Dad constructed a small tool shed for our backyard. He purchased the plans and materials and began constructing parts of the shed on our driveway. I recall helping dad night after night by handing him tools, dragging pieces of wood over to him and helping clean up. Dad was always very careful to set-up his saw cuts with 2 measurements. After using the technique many times he finally looked to me and said, “Measure twice, cut once.” He went on to explain it was a lesson he had learned from a member of a carpenters battalion transported on his navy ship in WW II. It is a simple rule I continue to follow to this day.

Yet another phrase was… Make a plan.

Like many kids back in the day, I loved model railroading. Dad had built a simple model railroad for my brothers and me. Some years later, around 8th grade, I told dad that I wanted to build a model railroad with more switches and tracks, and with tunnels and hills. Dad urged me to make a plan. I proceeded to draft scaled drawings of the track layout - and of the wooden supports required for the hills and slopes of the rolling landscape. Dad reviewed the plans and gave me a thumbs up to start building. After gathering the required materials and tools, he stepped aside to let me start building – occasionally checking in on my work. Completion of my project required most of the skills dad had taught me through the years.

An education is something you will always have.

Dad always believed that education was worth the time and money spent. He aspired to attend the engineering school at Case long before he was old enough to apply for admission. He graduated from Case with high academic marks and became a devoted alumnus - eventually earning a meritorious service award from the Case Alumnus Association. Money can buy many things that might eventually be lost, stolen or sold – but an education is not one of them. Mom and dad provided us with wonderful educational opportunities. And many years later, we still possess the essence of what those opportunities brought to us.

Travel is always worth the money spent.

Dad learned the value of travel at the age of twelve when he and my grandmother spent a summer in Italy. Even in recent years dad was able to able to recall with great clarity the places he visited and the people he met nearly 75 years earlier. Our family made a trip to Italy in 1970. I too can recall, almost day by day, the places and people of that trip. The memories of our travels are priceless and have been the subject of many joyful conversations through the years.

Not all of dad’s lessons were announced with memorable phrases. Many became apparent over time – often through the constant witness of dad in everyday life.

Dad’s love for my mother was evident in the hugs he would give her upon returning home after work. That love remained evident as dad provided unrelenting care for mom in the last years of her life.

Dad’s love for my brothers and me was evident in his support for our many and varied interests.

Dad always approached life with integrity and honesty. Those qualities where especially evident when I, after starting full time at the family business, had the opportunity to learn more about dad from the company’s many vendors and customers.

Dad’s commitment to the institution of marriage was never more apparent than when he and Marty married a little over six years ago. Once again, we witnessed those signs of affection that brought even greater confidence in our own marriages.

Dad’s last lesson to us was to pass with dignity. It was a lesson he wrote by himself, but knew he would need our help to deliver. All of you here today make dad’s last lesson complete.

Marc Vitantonio

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4. EULOGY FROM FUNERAL, BY BOB VITANTONIO, SON

For those who knew Dad, knew that he was a particular man who liked to do a job well, and through to completion.

We are thankful here today that Dad was able to live his life in this way.

As we say goodbye, we say to him, “Yes, you fulfilled your many roles well, and we are happy that you were able to carry on to a very good completion”.

“Yes Dad, you did an exceptional job, perhaps beyond what you could’ve realized. The way you lived life Dad, taught us all things that are now a part of us, and will remain with us and those that we impact. We love you Dad for your dedication and your selfless devotion to us all”.

“So, Dad, just a few minutes of time certainly cannot convey the endless ways your life impacted us. But, just several of your outstanding life’s endeavors, I would like to use to eulogize you, for these events alone taught us all we needed to learn in life”.

“Dad, our most beloved mother Diva was so disturbingly ill and confused for so many years. You stood with her in every way that you knew how. You were strong when it was so hurtful. You tended to her at home until she just could no longer function, then you so loyally drove out to see her daily when she was outside the home. Thank you Dad and we are sorry for how much you must have suffered, as we all did.”

“We are sorry too, that you had to see your son Dennis go before you, and at such an age of only forty years. How difficult to face your young son dying, and at a time when your wife was unable to comprehend his condition, and unaware of her own son’s death. Dad, you kept your strength and in doing so you brought us all through it. Thank you Dad, we could not have faced it without you.”

“I also have to mention your work. Your business life was important to you, and you were simply as hard working at it as anyone could be. You faced many untold adversities and succeeded. You fulfilled your goal of providing for your family, educating us well, and taking us all on memorable family vacations.”

“I think more than anything, by your business life you taught us to be open minded. You showed us how problems usually could be resolved with thought, persistence, and hard work. Sometime in unforeseen business adversity, you showed us how to be flexible and work around a situation, and still find a way to progress.”

Dad, you have a quote in your memoir book, which incidentally you tirelessly wrote at age eighty-four. You spoke about your father, and how he taught you. You said, “What we learned about the business, we learned from my father”. Well likewise, we learned from you Dad. Business is really more than accounts and processes, It is virtues like loyalty, trust, respect, hard work, persistence… these are what builds a business. You taught us all of that, Dad. You taught is through and through, and we will not forget.

One final thing you taught us Dad. In 2004, at age eighty-two, you married Marti. You were actually concerned that perhaps we might not approve. We of course had nothing but our best of wishes. You Dad, and Marti, showed us that age is irrelevant. All over again you both showed us that love and devotion overcomes all. You and Marti stepped out in faith and made a whole new life for each other. No one at that time I think could’ve realized how much joy your re-marriage gave to all of the children, grand-children, and great grand-children around both of you. We can only think, what a wonderful thing, what a beautiful example. Even in your final years Dad, you re-invented yourself and again taught us more that ever.

We are only sorry that Marti no longer has you nearby. But now Marti is a mother and grand-mother to us. She is like a link to you for us. We promise you Dad that we will take care of her.

There are thousands of incidences that we could recall, but in all it is this love and devotion that pervaded your life’s efforts.

There are thousands of poems that we could recite on your behalf. Dad as we say our goodbyes here and now, here is one poem I think perhaps captures some of your feeling as you concluded a life lived well, through to a very fine completion:

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Lord, when Thou seest that my work is done,

Let me not linger on,

With failing powers,

Adown the weary hours, –

A workless worker in a world of work.

But, with a word,

Just bid me home,

And I will come

Right gladly, –

Yea, right gladly

Will I come.

-Poem “After Work” by John Oxenham

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Bob Vitantonio

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