Lucy M. Gambino

What’s most important is the dash. What happened during the dash. Everyone here had a part in that dash or you likely wouldn’t be here. The very most important part of that dash was that she was married to Gabe for 71 years and the mother of Elaine, Lucille and Pat. Grandmother to Paul D, Stacie, Brett, and Sara. Great-grandmother to Quinn, Dillan, Manny, Giana, Arielle, Mila and Ansley.

We came to know Lucy in about 1978. Paul and I were working at the ambulance service, and I heard a call go out that Paul was transporting Lucille to Bayfront due to a reaction to anesthesia.

I went to meet them to see how she was doing. Up the ramp comes this little lady with a very thick New York accent. I knew right away that she must be the leader in that family, if you know what I mean. Paul would introduce me to his mother-in-law Lucy Gambino. Very pleasant and self-confident and didn’t seem to be rattled like my mom would be.

Over time as our friendship with Paul and Lucille grew, we got to know the entire family and before you know, we are like part of the family. I believe that Lucy bestowed that honor on us. I recently saw a memorial for Gabe pop up on my email. I went through all the pictures and what I saw and was again reminded of, that you could see on Lucy’s face that the pride of her life was her family. The pictures of the younger days reveal two people with movie star good looks, and until the end, Lucy had that beautiful smile and those piercing and self-assured eyes.

What I can tell you for sure is that Lucy’s sole purpose in life was Gabe and her family. She was the caregiver, very self-assured and as I said, in charge. It was done her way or the highway. We would enjoy many holidays at the Gambino’s, celebrate birthdays, Mother’s Day, and support when grief struck either family.

If you just saw Lucy and didn’t know her, you wouldn’t know that she had the heart and the roar of a lioness, and we know someone else just like her. Lucy took care of her sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and most of all Gabe.

Gabe really started to decline during the pandemic, and as busy as she was taking such great care of him, she took the time to use her skills as a seamstress and made all of us masks because she wanted to protect us. That is what Lucy was all about, caring for everyone.

That steel exterior shown through again when she got her diagnosis. She simply said, ok, let’s take care of it. And at 92 put up the fight of a warrior. This trait of caring for family certainly has trickled down to her kids and grandkids.

If you want a good health care surrogate that will make sure you have the very best of care, you want Lucille in your corner. Pat has been there through it all, making sure his mom was well cared for, and Elaine before Lucy went to Georgia for treatment.

We will all miss the great times with the Gambino’s, and I know my son will be lost when it comes to Christmas dinners. You see he always had a plate of food saved for him at Lucy’s as they knew he hated turkey. Lucille did send him a tease this year and told him how good it was.

Lucy, Grandma, Nanny, mom, sister, and aunt are amongst her many titles.

She always referred to the great Grandchildren as her magnificent 7. She was so proud to be their Nanny. But of all the titles, I believe the one she deserves the most is Magnificent. She was one of a kind. Someone that we should all feel fortunate to have known, learned from, and were well nourished by. I must be honest; I will miss the sausage and peppers.

I was really touched when I recently found out that just after Lucy’s passing, Lucille and the kids brought her neighbor from the ALF for Christmas Eve dinner. I called and was talking to Quinn, and she told me they were enjoying their best friend, Lydia. It seems that from the first day that Lucy moved into the ALF, Lydia checked in on her every day. Lucy is so proud that the kids are following her tradition of offering anyone a seat at the table. Her legacy of kindness is now being passed on to the newest generation.

To the entire family our heartfelt sympathy and condolences. Let’s always keep Lucy in our minds and in our hearts and in our prayers.

Please rest in eternal peace and give my buddy a hug. We love you and miss you.

- Steve Mogil

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Gambino, Lucy M. (Marzocca), 92, of Clearwater, FL went to join our Lord on Wednesday December 21st. Born April 23, 1930, in Bronx NY, she was the daughter of Carlo and Serafina Marzocca. She graduated from Washington Irving High School in New York where she earned a diploma in dress making and dress design. She also participated in a work-study program with the designer Maria Sandy during her Senior year. Lucy became a member of the Dress Making and Design Alumnae Association of Washington Irving High School in 1947. After graduation, she worked four years at the American Bank Note Company as an Examiner of Printed Work in the Bronx Plant. Unable to deny her love of fashion, she went on to design and sew wedding gowns for friends and family, including her own wedding dress. Over the years, Lucy made exquisite clothing and costumes for her grandchildren. At the beginning of the pandemic, she researched how to make quality masks and poured her heart into sewing hundreds of masks for family and neighbors in her community. She was concerned at the time that all people she cared about would be protected when masks were in short supply.

On November 13, 1949, Lucy married the love of her life, Gabriel “Gabe”, and they enjoyed 71 wonderful years of marriage before he went to be with our Lord. Lucy and Gabe moved to Florida in 1978 to be closer to extended family and escape the cold winters of New York. She worked at B&F Shoes and Cloth World in St. Petersburg, FL. In 2010, Lucy and Gabe moved to Raintree Village Condominiums where she was active in leading and participating in the Social Committee. She loved the comradery and played shuffleboard, marbles, and cards with friends. Lucy will be remembered for her great love of family, love of travel - especially the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas, game shows, cards and trivia, and reading historical romance novels. Lucy is survived by her children Elaine Harris, Lucille (Paul) Harrington, and Patrick Gambino; grandchildren Paul (Morgan) Harrington, Brett Harris, Stacie (Jeff) Oden, and Sara (Erik) Albert; great-grandchildren Emmanuel “Manny” Albert, Giana Albert, Quinn Oden, Arielle Albert, Mila Harrington, Ansley Harrington, and Dillan Oden. Lucy is preceded in death by her beloved husband Gabriel and son-in-law Paul Harrington Jr.

Funeral services will be held at Sylvan Abbey in Clearwater Florida on January 2nd. Visitation will be from 11am-1pm. Funeral service will follow at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Agape Hospice Marietta or the Glioblastoma Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sylvanabbey.com for the Gambino family.