Gino Carmen Rotondo

Rotondo, Gino C. (age 84) passed away on July 25, 2010 in Medical Lake, WA. Gino attended Cooper Elementary in the Minnehaha neighborhood and, in 1943, graduated from Gonzaga Prep. The day after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as a corpsman in the Eastern Pacific during WWII. After the war, Gino worked various odd jobs until joining the U.S. Postal Service where he was a well-liked mail carrier for 30 years. Later he worked for 10 years as a courier for the Central Valley School District from where he retired permanently. Gino and his brother, Frank, trained and raced thoroughbred race horses at Playfair and throughout the Pacific Northwest for a number of years. Gino bought property in Otis Orchards where he raised hay for the horses and a garden for everyone, it seemed. He loved to work the farm on his John Deere tractor, and to build things. He never forgot his roots in the Minnehaha area, however, and would often drive to Minnehaha to see what was happening in “the old neighborhood.” In 1966, Gino married his wife, Virginia, and became an instant father to two young boys. He was a member of Mary Queen Catholic Church for years, but later attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Otis Orchards. Gino was preceded in death by his parents, Filberto and Peppina Rotondo, and his brothers, Art, Vic, and Frank Rotondo. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; sons, Craig (Sophia) Shillam and Terry (Jill) Shillam; four grandchildren: Taylor, Connor, Cassie, and Miranda Shillam; sister-in-law, Jan Rotondo; sister-in-law, Darlene (Bill) Maxwell; sister-in-law, Kathy Klick; sister-in-law, Lu (Chuck) Stocker; brother-in-law, Clay (Jo Ann) Sweat; and numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Dr. Soffee and all of the help in Pod B at Westlake Hospital for their loving care. Visitation for Gino will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010 from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, 1306 N. Pines Rd, Spokane Valley, WA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 30, 2010 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 4521 N. Arden, Otis Orchards, WA 99027. Memorial contributions may be sent to Gonzaga Prep, 1224 E. Euclid Ave, Spokane, WA 99207. Arrangements under the direction of Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home-Pines, Spokane, WA.