Gidio Ciavaglia

Remember the Number 2.

The first time you met Gidio Ciavaglia, chances were excellent that he’d ask you to remember that number before launching into the story behind it, which goes like this:

He served overseas in the U.S. Army during World War II for two years – 1943 to 1945.

He made two landings: once in Italy, once in southern France.

He was wounded twice: once in Italy, once in southern France.

He received two Purple Hearts: one in Italy and one in southern France.

He received two Bronze stars: one in Italy and one in southern France.

The story ended with, "That’s it."

If you met Gidio Ciavaglia, chances are good that you heard this story more than two times. He retold it until the day he died on April 15, 2017.  He was 92 --six weeks shy of 93.

Gidio – pronounced GEE-DEE-O – was a great story teller. He had lots of stories, most worth repeating two, three, 100 times, which he often did.  If you asked Gid, as he was often called, what was the secret to a long life, he’d likely answer:  Peace and quiet. Plus, don’t get married until you are at least 40 and make sure it’s to a nice Italian girl.

His parents didn’t give him a middle name and no one is quite sure where his first name came from. As a kid, he was known as “the fruit from Orchard Street” because he would bust out in hysterical laughter during inappropriate points in the movies. He once broke up with his future wife by telling her he had to rototill his garden and didn’t have time to take her out on dates.

During World War II, Private First Class Ciavaglia worked in the U.S. Army Second battalion’s ammunition and pioneer platoon in the 30th Infantry 3rd Division. He laid and removed field mines as part of his duties. His nickname was The Bull.

He captured two German soldiers during the war, but rarely talked about his service time. He was a self-taught portrait artist who would sketch the celebrities on the TV-guide cover when he was bored.

In his later years, he owned a dozen baseball caps, each emblazoned with some variation of World War II veteran and combat wounded. He wore one every day, everywhere. His favorite shirts and jackets were emblazoned with his veteran status, as well. His favorite jacket, a bright lavender unlined satin one, he wore proudly when it was 30 degrees outside, unless his family hid it from him. He was known for saluting people.

After returning from the war, Gidio returned to his job as a machinist at SKF Industries in Philadelphia where he worked more than 40 years, earning a gold pocket watch at his retirement in 1989. He built a three-bedroom ranch house with 2-inch thick hardwood floors, fieldstone fireplace and plaster walls on an acre lot in Holland. He lived in it until January 18, 2017, when he entered, first the hospital, then rehab.

He survived metastatic melanoma at age 74. He cultivated a quarter-acre home garden until he was in his late 80s, and gave away most of what he grew. He lost an index finger at the first knuckle in a machine. He was a former league bowler and shot a mean game of pool into his 90s.

A first generation Italian American, Gidio married a first generation Italian American girl at age 42. He frequently reminded people he married the most perfect woman, aside from his mother. They had three children, Joann Ciavaglia, of Bensalem; Tina (Ciavaglia) Scannapieco, of Wayne; and the late Joseph Ciavaglia, of Bensalem.  Later in life, he had one fat cat named Mia, but who he called Weezy and complained followed him everywhere. He is survived by two grand-children Samantha Scannapieco and Joseph Scannapieco and four grand kitties: Norton, Cedar, Noelle, and Mom Ciavaglia. He also is survived by two nieces, five nephews, and many friends including Original Neshaminy Mall Club members Joe Sicilia, and Junior DeBiase, Aunt Mary and Eugene Bilotti, Maureen and Bob Hickey, Allen Rupp, Pam CIA, the Sunday LA Fit Breakfast Club, Agron and Sam Shay and the Hartman family.  He was preceded in death by his son Joseph; wife, Louise; older brother Joseph Ciavaglia; and parents, Oddo and Giovanna “Jenny” Ciavaglia.

Family, friends, fellow veterans, strangers are invited to call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Assumption BVM Catholic Church, 1900 Meadowbrook Road, Feasterville, where Gidio was a devoted parishioner for more than 50 years. The viewing will be followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial with full military honors will be in Our Lady of Grace Cemetery in Middletown. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent in his name to Bingo’s Foundation, P.O. Box 7130, Penndel, Pa 19047, or Shamrock Reins at http://www.shamrockreins.org/general-donation.html