Angelo P. Giallombardo

ANGELO P. GIALLOMBARDO age 88, beloved husband for 16 years of Yvonne (Anderson) (nee Battay); and the late Mary (nee Toth), loving father of Gary (Renee), James, Margaret Valletta (Nicola), and the late Robert (Cindy); stepfather of Jeffrey Anderson, Michele Rosen, Michael (Susan) and Christopher Anderson (Leslie); devoted grandfather of Angelo, Gary (Kim), Stephanie Bakula (John), James, Michael Giallombardo (Jaqui), Vittorio, Roberto, Mario & Adriana Valletta, Stephanie Rosen, Jillian Guest (Alex), Justin, Christopher, & Kaitlyn Anderson, Lucy, Matthew & Lainey Anderson & great-grandfather of Sylvena, Camille, Gabriella, Gianna, Gary, Michael Giallombardo & Brooklynn Bakula; Cherished son of the late Filipo & Carolina (nee Naso);  Survived by treasured sister Betty Klinc, in-laws Theresa Giallombardo, Ben Toth (Lucy), Jeanne Sobul & Roberta Marinos. Proceeded in death by siblings Joseph (Josephine), Anthony, Sam (Mamie) & Rose Giallombardo, Josephine (Joseph) Marucci, Carol (Anthony) Adornetto, brother in laws Raymond Klinc, Doug Sobul and Doyle Marinos. Dear uncle, great-uncle, cousin & friend of many.

Angelo was born on April 23, 1930, in Cleveland and passed away on September 15, 2018, in Highland Hts where he has resided since 1976. Angelo was born to Italian immigrants from Sant’Agata di Militello, provincia di Messina, Sicilia, and was one of four boys and four girls. Angelo was known as the “rascal” of the family and was always making people laugh. He had a way of bringing joy to everyone he met. He was EVERYONE’S FRIEND! Everyone turned to him when they needed an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, someone to confide to, someone who cared and someone that would always know what to say. He had the biggest heart, was a tender loving soul, who always saw the best in everything and everyone. He was compassionate about life, helping others and helping his family be the best they could be. Uncle Angelo was everyone’s FAVORITE, and everyone was his favorite.

ANGELO WAS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY! He was Loud. He brought his harmony to every song he sang, whether it was EH CUMPARI, CE LA LUNA, JUST BECAUSE, WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS OR HE WAS FAMOUS FOR MAKING UP HIS OWN WORDS TO SONGS! He sang it with all his heart and soul and always had an audience. He was ALWAYS the center of attention. If he wasn’t singing, he was dancing, the famous “Big Ange” Shuffle. You know, the one where he pumps his fist and then his other fist… If you ever danced with him, you know it!

Angelo was an amazing father and step-father. He taught his family to love one another, and always be there for each other. There was nothing more important to him than his family. He was so proud of each of them for their accomplishments, achievements and all of the small moments in their lives as well. Everything was worth celebrating. If he instilled anything to his family, it was the importance of family and how to love one another. FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!

Angelo was a parishioner of St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church and was very active in his community. He was also a co-parishioner at St Mary’s of the Assumption in Collinwood where he belonged to the St. Mary-Mother Teresa Society and St. Philomena Church where he worked with his wife Yvonne in an organization to help end hunger and provide clothing to the needy. Angelo also helped young adults at Julie Billiart school in the early 70s with his wife Mary as a gym teacher, a mentor to students and was always involved in fund raisers for Julie Billiart and many other organizations. He was good on the microphone and a natural seller of raffle tickets. He participated in Rotary International – Hillcrest in the 80s. He was a proud U.S. Army Veteran, serving our country from 1952-1954. He was originally selected to go to Korea during the Korean conflict but miraculously he was reassigned to Germany, at the last minute, after his little sister Carol said a Novena for his reassignment. Angelo graduated from East Tech High School in 1948 where he was the president of his class. He met his best friend Pat Ruvolo when he was 4 years old and said goodbye to him just 2 months ago. Pat and Shirley were his best man and Maid of honor in his wedding to his first wife Mary whom he met at the young age of 14 at Hiram House Camp. They married in 1956. They raised 3 sons and a daughter. He began working as a printer out of high school and began his sales career with Louis Furniture. This prepared him for his next role as a Sales Manager at the former Brush Furniture in Lyndhurst where he made many friends and sold great furniture to many people, who still talk about him today. When a deal turned sour to buy the business, he became a Sales Representative for Sealy Mattress Company. Angelo took the challenge and built the lowest producing territory to one of the most successful. He was promoted to National Key Accounts Manager where he handled large key accounts for Sealy. Of course, he handled those with class and style as well. He retired from Sealy in 1995. Staying at home wasn’t of much interest, so he took a job at his cousin’s Wendy’s to help him for a day and ended up doing so for 8 years. It is no wonder they loved him there, as he got their drive thru time from order to pick up down to 33 seconds. That was one of his goals! In 2000, Angelo lost his wife Mary and several years later met Yvonne who he married in 2003. They loved to polka dance, play cards and spend time with their children, grandchildren and great grand-children. They were happiest when both families were celebrating together. When Crostata’s opened in Highland Hts., he became the daytime host, the Menu maker, or whatever other printed things they needed. He took pride in everything he did. Most recently he was a porter for Classic Lexus and loved spending time with the guys before their pickups/drop offs to customers. He greatly enjoyed playing golf and basketball with his kids and was known to forget his age now and then… pulling a muscle being macho was just his thing. He also loved playing card games, especially Pinochle with his longtime buddies Tony, Pete, Phil and Joe. They played 25 cents hands and he always kept track of who won that big pot each week. He also enjoyed playing “Pay Me” and his newest card game “Hand to Foot”. Angelo was an avid Cleveland Browns fan, who had season tickets since 1948 when his sister Carol worked in the Browns Office. He went to the games with his brother in law Tony Adornetto and made it a tradition and eventually included their children, nieces, nephews and the tradition continues to this day with his son and nephew holding those season tickets in their honor. Angelo loved watching the Browns, Indians, and Cavs games with his family. He enjoyed listening to Polka music, singing (and was usually the loudest singer in church), dancing in his free time and was an avid bookkeeper. Angelo was a best friend to everyone. He was giving, caring, and generous. He had a great sense of humor and made friends easily.

To have known you was our greatest gift in life! To have loved you or been loved by you was truly an immeasurable gift we will treasure forever. They just don’t make them like you, you are undoubtably one of a kind!

Angelo, you will be truly missed by all.

Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, September 20, 2018 at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church at 10:30 AM. Burial following with Military Honors at Knollwood Mausoleum. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Angelo at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) Wednesday 2-4 and 5-8 PM.