Sergio Salvatore Gigante

Serge met the love of his life, Suzanne, after they attended the wedding of mutual friends. The friends were playing matchmaker, but Serge misunderstood who he was supposed to meet. Only after the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon and asked how things were going with Sue did Serge realize he had taken the wrong woman on dates. He was finally introduced to Sue, and they were inseparable for 64 years. They were married in January, 1961 and had two sons, Len and Mike.

Serge had many jobs when he was young, but found his calling as a United States Postal Inspector. As an Inspector, Serge and his family moved frequently, but Serge’s final duty station was Charlotte, and that city became “home” to him. Through his work, he became a tireless advocate for the protection of children. After he retired, he turned his energy toward preventing elder fraud, working for AARP. He also served his country in the National Guard.

To relieve some of the stress of his work as an Inspector, Serge and Sue became clowns. Their names were Salami and SooGee. They excelled at balloon animals, something their sons can still hear to this day. Serge and Sue loved to travel. They went on dozens of cruises, even teaching craft classes on some of them.

Serge was a proud Italian-American. He was a member of the Italian American Cultural Association, and the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy, Giuseppe Verdi lodge #315. He still spoke Italian with family members and friends. Serge was a voracious reader and would read anything printed, no matter the format or content. He loved to tell stories and jokes. The jokes were always funny, even if he couldn’t remember the punchline.

Serge is survived by his beloved wife Sue. His legacy will be carried on by his family, sons Len and his wife Terri, Mike and his wife Teresa, as well as his three grandsons, Matt and his wife Ashley, Cosmo, and Max.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 19th at 10 am at Woody Funeral Home, 9271 Shady Grove Road, Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you order a cannoli the next time you see it on a menu, and enjoy it with a fond memory of Serge.