Louis Dominic Germani

D-Day Invasion Survivor; Father of 7

Louis D. Germani passed away on March 3, 2016. He was 93, feisty, sharp-minded, stubborn and independent until the very end.

Born in Portland in 1922, the 7th of 8 children of Rocco and Lucia Germani, Lou attended Portland’s North School and then Portland High School, graduating in 1940. He was a devout Catholic. After high school, Lou worked as a machinist and at the South Portland Shipyard building Liberty Ships until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. On June 7, 1944, Lou and 120 other soldiers in the 30th Infantry, 230th Field Artillery Battalion stormed the beach “Omaha Red” in Normandy, France. He was in fierce battle with the German Army for 34 straight days, witnessing and miraculously surviving horrible carnage that he could never forget. On July 11, 1944, Lou was severely injured, and very nearly killed, during the battle of St. Lo, France. To his knowledge, he was the sole survivor of his unit. In the bedlam, Lou’s dog tags were lost and he was listed as missing in action until an Army chaplain with whom Lou had worked as an altar server, recognized him in an Army hospital in England. He was awarded the Purple Heart and two ribbons. After his recovery and discharge from the Army in 1945, Lou came home to Portland where he lived the rest of his life.

While stationed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lou met a beautiful Italian Catholic girl named Rose Granata. They married on August 5, 1945, and had a 42-year love affair until Rose died in 1987.

Lou and Rose had 7 children who all survive him: son Rocco N. Germani and his wife Mary Germani and their 2 children and 2 grandchildren; son Philip M. Germani and his 2 sons and 2 grandchildren; daughter Joanne Fortin and her husband Roger Fortin and their 4 children and 5 grandchildren; daughter Jean Russo and her husband Robert Russo; daughter Anita Germani and her 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren; son Louis R. Germani and his wife Kathy Germani; and daughter Elizabeth Germani and her husband Roy St. Clair and their 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Lou also leaves a sister, Camela Decker, and his long-time companion Laura Caminiti.

Lou was pre-deceased by his wife Rose Germani, an infant son, a grandson, his parents, and 6 of his siblings: Joe Germani, Guy Germani, Celeste Romano, Rita Ward, Brad Germaine and Lena Federico.

Lou was very active in the Catholic Church. As a child, he was an altar boy at St. Peter’s Parish. As a soldier, he served as an altar server for the Army chaplains. For many years he worked as a Captain for the Bishop’s Appeal. He also donated countless hours remodeling the rectory and altar at St. Peter’s and working in various capacities for St. Patrick’s Parish after he moved his family to the Westgate area of Portland. Lou was also active in the City of Portland, serving as a member of the Portland Taxpayers’ Association. One of Lou’s proudest achievements was starting, with his wife and others in 1953, the social club now known as the Italian Heritage Center. Lou was intimately involved in every aspect of “the Club,” which at one point grew to more than 1700 members. He served for many years as an officer of the IHC, including as its President and Parliamentarian, and he was instrumental in the construction of the building on Westland Avenue, where the IHC still operates as a thriving social club and event center. During his retirement years, Lou spent most mornings at the IHC, solving the world’s problems with his buddies in “the Muffin Club.” Lou was also very active in the Portland Lodge of Elks where he served as an officer, including a year as its Exalted Ruler.

Lou also worked hard for 60 years. He began working when he was just 7 years old, in 1929, as a shoe shine boy on the docks of Portland. At 10, to help his family during the Great Depression, he got a paper route and for years Lou delivered on foot the newspaper twice a day to a huge route in downtown Portland. After the war, Lou worked in construction for several different companies, including Romano Construction and New England Insulation, where he was one of the first to install acoustical ceilings all over Maine. Eventually, Lou started Germani Construction, which he operated until 1981. In the 1980’s, he worked as a construction manager, first for Ram Construction and then for Cumberland Farms, from which he retired in 1989.

Lou was one of the greatest of “The Greatest Generation.” He was kind, loyal and generous. His moral character, tenaciousness and integrity were unsurpassed. If there were more like him, this world would be a much better place. He will be greatly missed.

Friends and family are invited to attend a time of visitation on Tuesday March 8, 2016 from 9:00 to 10:15 A.M. in the Jones Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford Street, Portland, Maine followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. in the St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church 72 Federal Street Portland, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lou’s memory to the “IHC Charitable Trust,” designated for the Germani Family Scholarship Fund, Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Avenue, Portland, Maine 04102. On-line condolences can be given to the family at www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.