Gene R Lonardo Sr

Gino Richard Lonardo Sr.

In Loving Memory 1937-2018

If it is true that one’s life is their message, then Dad’s message was devotion to family, friends and community, faith, kindness to all, hard work, humor, and appreciation of life’s smallest wonders. Gene (Gino) Lonardo passed away January 18, 2018 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was surrounded by family who made his passing peaceful and serene. Dad was the youngest of 9 children, born March 11, 1937 in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the son of Italian immigrants, Nicola and Angeline Lonardo. He married his High School sweetheart Pearl Porter. After joining the Air Force, Dad and Mom moved to Las Vegas Nevada in 1959. Dad and Mom were married for 56 years and raised 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Dad retired from the Nevada State Industrial Commission where he worked with the operations and maintenance crew (O & M) for many years.

Dad’s legacy will always be his family. Without doubt, this was his most treasured possession. Married very young and faced with the early death of our mother’s parents, Dad and Mom opened their home to her three youngest siblings (Betty, Tommy, and Mary Ellen) and then had six of their own children in rapid succession. They would later open their home to our aging grandparents. Through the years, Dad and Mom’s home became a relaxing retreat for relatives and friends throughout the country. All guests felt welcome and safe, however, you might find yourself awakened at some ungodly hour with Dad singing or carrying on about how we’re “burning daylight” and harassing Mom for some breakfast. In this small home in Las Vegas, Dad and Mom forged the family values of love, forgiveness, acceptance and hard work. Every member of our family, including significant others, contributes to the family and carries on these family values. Love is the invisible glue that holds the family together. We love, we laugh, we forgive, and we help and support one another. With the realization that our family had become large and disjointed, Dad started the now infamous “Grampa’s Family Newsletter”. In this newsletter, he told stories of our family, which started with his mother and father and their journey from Triggiano, Italy to New York, Chicago, Youngstown, Ohio and eventually Las Vegas, Nevada. Dad was the patriarch that made this family what it is today. After losing his wife two years ago, Dad struggled, grieved, picked himself up, and once again, brought the family close.

Dad was beloved and made friends no matter where he went and he adored his neighbors. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and the tradition of bowling and an Arizona Charlies breakfast every Friday with his friends. He and Mom unwaveringly called and made time for their friends. They loved to travel with their RV and made many trips around the country. Dad was always cleaning up the neighborhood, calling about graffiti, attending community meetings and made it a point to visit his neighbors.

Dad was strong and overcame many adversities in his life. In his forties with six young children, he developed stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy with radiation. He continued to work through his treatments and, despite severe nausea and vomiting, managed to take his kids fishing. Dad was a hard worker with an enormous amount of energy. He loved life! He was a great teacher and had gift for explaining difficult concepts. He was scientifically curious and was always interested in the physics of windmills, airplanes, surveying the lake level and astronomy. As a 14 year old boy, he built his own telescopes to observe the planets and stars. Dad was a jack of all trades. He taught us how work on cars, small engines, basic plumbing and electrical. Most importantly though, he taught us that family was the most import gift we possessed.

After his cancer had metastasized, Dad’s final lesson was to teach us how to deal with what most of us fear most, death. He knew that his disease was terminal for a long time, but he was never bitter and embraced his disease and his final days with dignity and even humor. Only weeks before his passing, he was singing songs, dancing, playing his harmonica and making us laugh. For the survivors of this wonderful man and the friends that feel empty at the thought of not being able to share in his company, take solace in his memories and live the messages he so powerfully taught in how he lived his life. His favorite quote was “I don’t care how poor a man is, if he has a family, he’s rich.” – Dan Wilcox.

Dad is survived by his 6 children: Gene (MerryLou) Lonardo, Loretta (Mike) Moses, Nick (Lynn) Lonardo, Diana (Gary) Bearden, Jeff (Yvette) Lonardo and Tony (Sharyn) Lonardo; 16 grandchildren: Candice (Nikoli), Gene, Courtney (Kyle), Stephanie (Mike), Michael, Marcus (Danielle Hildebrand), Andre (Jessa Tuminez), Bella, Sofia, Raquel (Andree), Robert (DJ Wheat), Taylor, Giavanna, Lorenzo, Peyton and Chase; and 6 great-grandchildren: Anthony, Christian, Boston, Nicolina, Zoe, and Diviney; and beloved dog, Tito.

The family would like to extend an extra special thanks to Patty and Ernesto Rodriguez for their tender care giving and extended relatives and friends for their love and support near and far. Thanks also to Dr. Belinda Peralta from the VAMC for her excellent medical care, love and concern. Services will be as follows: Visitation - January 29, 2018, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Bunkers Mortuary 925 LV Blvd. North LV; Funeral Mass - January 30, 2018, 10:00 AM at St. Francis de Sales Church, 1111 Michael Way LV; Burial - February 1, 2018, 10:40 AM at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery 1900 Buchanan Blvd, Boulder City, NV. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org/ways-to-donate