Eugenio Migaldi

Of Holt, MichiganAge 74, died Tuesday, April 3, 2007, after a long illness. Born in Cosenza, Italy, Gino acquired a lifelong love of nature from growing up on a southern Italian farm where he and his family raised vegetables, fruit, and animals while enduring the hardships of World War II. After poverty forced Gino to abandon his studies in engineering, he emigrated to Lansing in 1952, where he worked at a series of jobs including the assembly line at General Motors?s Fisher Body plant. In 1955 he married, and in 1957 he and a brother-in-law opened a bar and grill on South Cedar Street known first as Dick & Gene?s and then as Gino?s. For the next 40 years the clientele at Gino?s?and later at Gino?s Genuine Italian restaurant and bar on North Grand River Avenue?encompassed nearly all walks of life, including autoworkers, state employees, journalists, police, health care professionals, university professors, mayors, and governors. Gino became well-known for his extroverted friendliness, his sponsorship of local sports teams, and his unflagging optimism and drive?as well as for countless acts of generosity for which he sought no publicity. Aside from his devotion to work and family he loved outdoor pursuits such as bird hunting, dog breeding, and vegetable gardening.

Gino was preceded in death by his parents, Salvatore and Luigina Migaldi; his wife, Dolores; and a son, Robert. He is survived by a son, Renaldo Migaldi; two daughters, Elena Fontana and Mary Migaldi; two granddaughters, Marina and Andrea Fontana, and their father, Carlos Fontana; and a great-granddaughter, Isabella Hentz. Pallbearers will be Thomas Farmer, Adam Hentz, David Pahl, James Rhodes, Charles W. Riley, Robert Stanek, Kenneth Stockwell, and Bradley Throop. Honorary pallbearers will be George Carr, Jerry Fata, Dr. John Fata, James Gesmundo, Richard Ghinelli, Robert Grescowle, Randall Schultze, and Jon Zumbrink. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw, where a rosary service will take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Martha?s Church, 1100 W. Grand River in Okemos, with rite of committal at St. Joseph?s Cemetery in Lansing. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association or to the Parkinson?s Disease Foundation