Charles Anton Girardi

Charles (Chuck) Anton Girardi was born on January 12, 1926 in Delcarbon, Colorado and was also raised in Roundup, Montana and Lead, South Dakota. He graduated from Lead High School in 1943. Chuck was a talented basketball player and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. He was also a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.

Chuck entered active service of the US Navy on February 23, 1944 and served in the Pacific until the end of World War II, earning medals in the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign, the American Area Campaign, and World War II Victory. After being honorably discharged on May 17, 1946, Chuck returned to the University of South Dakota to continue his studies and play basketball. When Chuck’s WWII officer “Dutch” Warmerdam became basketball coach at Fresno State College, Chuck transferred to Fresno State and played basketball for the Bulldogs. He earned his Bachelors Degree from Fresno State College in 1950. He later earned his Masters Degree from Black Hills State College in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Chuck’s first teaching and coaching position was at Spearfish High School in South Dakota. While submitting game scores to the local newspaper, Chuck met his future wife, Mary Louise Comes, who worked at the newspaper as a photographer. They were married on July 27, 1953 in Spearfish, South Dakota. They began their married life in Belle Fourche, South Dakota and lived in Fresno, California before moving to Merced in 1976.

Chuck’s former Bulldog coach encouraged him to return to Fresno when an opening for a coaching position became available. Chuck and his family (wife and two daughters) moved to Fresno where he began teaching and coaching at Roosevelt High School. Chuck was employed by the Fresno Unified School District and worked at Roosevelt until 1974 when he began work as an educator and coach at Merced College. During his teaching and coaching career, Chuck touched many lives and was proud of the accomplishments of his players.

In retirement, Chuck enjoyed his family, golf, and spending months each year with his wife at their cabin in his beloved Black Hills, South Dakota. He played golf almost daily, once playing 36 holes in one outing!

Chuck is survived by his loving children Cindy Ferdinandi, Cathy (husband Mark Elchinoff), Janelle (husband Skip Niebauer), Guido (wife Lourdes), and Mike (wife Cristi). Chuck was a doting grandfather to Michael, Stephen, Alexa, Austin, Frank, Xavier, and Sabrina. He is survived by his sister Olga Nelson. Chuck was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary Lou, his parents Giorgio and Angelina, and brothers George and Joseph.

A celebration of Chuck’s life will be on March 4, 2017 in Merced. Please contact Stratford Evans Funeral Home for specific information. Burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota on March 10 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chuck Girardi’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

Arrangements under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, Merced, CA.