Tina Fagiani

Benedetta, “Tina” Fagiani, age 95, a longtime Stamford resident, and beloved wife of Mario Fagiani, passed away peacefully yesterday at home, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. Born in Capo d’Orlando, Sicily on January 22, 1920, she was the daughter of Carmelo and Antonina Cangemi Fiocco. Along with her family, she immigrated to the United States at an early age, growing up in New York City’s Greenwich Village and the Bronx. She graduated from Walton High School in 1937, and married her husband, Mario Fagiani, in 1942. In 1950, Tina and her family relocated to the Springdale section of Stamford. A resident for 65 years, Tina worked at Machlett Laboratories, Audio Devices, and retired as an executive secretary from GE in 1996. Tina had a strong sense of social justice and was an early and vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. She placed great emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle and was a regular listener of Carlton Fredericks’ radio program, “Design for Living.” Her favorite hobby was reading. Among her favorite authors were: Margaret Mitchell, Pearl S. Buck, Somerset Maugham, and Zane Grey. Tina loved music, and had an eclectic taste, ranging from popular music; both in English and Italian, to Latin American, jazz, classical and opera. She was partial to piano music of all genres. An excellent cook, Tina used to say the key to good cooking was simplicity. She graced many a holiday dinner with her delicious roasts, lasagnas, meatballs, stuffed artichokes, roasted peppers, plum cake and Christmas cookies. Tina enjoyed gardening and the movies. Her favorite male actor was Clark Gable. Tina volunteered at Saint Leo’s adult literacy program and served as secretary of her condominium association. She is predeceased by her husband, Mario Fagiani, and her sister Folle Fiocco Buczek, and survived by her daughter, Linda, married to Alan Goldman of Norwalk; her son, Gilbert Fagiani, and his wife Maria Lisella of New York City; her sister Emma Morales Fiocco, of Yonkers, New York; a brother Charles Fiocco of Brewster, New York, and his wife Elizabeth Fiocco; four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, at 2900 Summer Street, Stamford, CT, on Thursday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org