Alfonso Vincent Giordano
October 9, 1923 ~ July 2, 2019
Resided in:
Pueblo West, Colorado
Alfonso Vincent Giordano, 95, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colo., following a brief illness.
He is survived by his son, Ralph; and 3 daughters, Lucy, Linda, and Nancy; 7 grandchildren, Jamie, Jessica, Matthew, Derek, Alex, Nancy Jo, and Ryan; and 4 great-grandchildren, Conner, Dylan, Mattison and Lucy. He is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy and daughter, Annette.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York; the son of Raphael and Antoinette (Romano) Giordano, he was a 24 year resident of Pueblo West, Colo. In his early years, Alfonso enjoyed a rough and tumble life hanging out with friends on the 'Streets of Brooklyn'. He shared many stories about how he and his best friend, Russell, would get into situations similar to the characters of his favorite young performers of the day...The Dead End Kids from his favorite film, Angels With Dirty Faces. From what he told us...angels they sure were not. After all, it was New York in the 1930's. He did have a change to perform in his youth. He sang Italian opera on local radio in Brooklyn. His booming voice entertained his family throughout his life. As a young man, he joined the Army, but only briefly before transferring to the U.S. Air Force from which he was honorably discharged January 1951. After serving in the military, he returned to his job as a professional bus driver with Transport of New Jersey where he remained for 40 years; happily driving passengers in his stomping ground of West New York, New Jersey overlooking the New York Skyline. His favorite 'run' was shortly before he retired from New York City to the famed boardwalk and casinos of Atlantic City. He absolutely loved his work. He was extremely proud of his driving skills and continued to drive until the very end of his life. He spent his retired life in service to his family enjoying special times and family vacations. When his travel days had past, he spent time on Skype with his family, especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also spent many hours with his sisters, Nancy and Anna and brother, Mike on Skype. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and will be remembered as a strong force of nature...easy to laugh with and love always. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in the Montgomery & Steward Chapel. Online condolences at www.montgomerysteward.com
Daddy,
I know you are at peace now with Mommy and Annette.
I know you are with family all our ancestors at rest.
The days we use to chatter and make each other mad.
The family moments that we gathered did surely make us glad!
All our days together I will remember with a smile.
And now I will pass your stories on through the memoir that you left.
The life of a Bus Driver is the story, but the meaning of your life is this.
You worked so hard for you family, the love was through and through.
You loved your job and the people, but your kids,
grand kids and great grand kids were your treasure, your precious jewel.
Love,
Your baby #5
Nancy
Daddy
Insieme fino allafine.Ti amero per sempre.
Ama tua figlia Linda.
Rest easy my father in law. You will be always loved by all of us.
My dearest uncle Al
It’s hard to believe that 45 years have passed since we first met.
Honestly you were always a kick. It was always a party when you were around. You got everyone to talk and have fun. I always looked forward to our next meeting.
I loved your old stories. Even the one you told me when I saw you last. It was about you taking a knife away from a treacherous teen in the subway. You said you kept the knife. Matter of fact I think I remember you showing it to me. Who knows. Maybe it was a true story.
I can still see your smile and feel the warmth of your heart. While it brings a tear to my eye now, you still make me smile.
Rest well old friend. I look forward to our next meeting.
With love forever
Dennis
Oh Uncle Al (Fusulo) I will miss our frequent skyping, listening to the endless stories, and with Aunt Nancy and mom singing the Italian songs.Your last words to me were in song. You loved all the children and they loved you. You would light up with a twinkle in your eyes! Not to say you drove us crazy as well. In all due respect to save your Independence to the end. A few months ago your car died and fought your family for a new car..You found your way to the dealership, told us you bought a car and it was going to be delivered. None of us believed it, but there it was in your garage!!! How you loved your daily rides with your BF Buddy. My Dearest Uncle my heart is broken. But I know you will be happy again to be with Aunt Nancy, Annette, and the rest of the family in heaven. Keep on singing!!! Love you to the moon and back! Anna
Uno Zio Mio, These were the last words I said to you last Sunday. You were a force in everyone’s life and had many stories to tell over a glass of vino. You were not only a bus driver but also had a business selling a special Clorox made by my Father’s Father and you and would go down to West New York and sell it to everyone in those sandles with black sox. You, my Dad and Grandfather also shared the same birth date and all 3 of you had the same personality. One story goes that at my parent’s wedding you had a fight with my Grandfather because only certain tables had beer and your’s didn’t. You 2 got into it but that’s all I can remember from that story and you both still sold your Clorox. Another business you had during the day in West New York was a hot dog stand with your special sauce. You did these businesses when you were off or had a long delay on your shifts. Boy you loved children and that story goes when I was born you decided to leave the service to be with your first nephew. It wasn’t a few years after that you started your own family. When you passed away Mom said to my Father’s picture not to fight with you when you reach your destiny. I know everyone where you are at are serene and looking down at us. I’m sure the family there have welcomed you with opened arms and until we meet again fair well my Dear Uncle and will always be thinking of you as I have when you were with us.
Love Always,
Charlie
Dear Uncle Al: I walked into your life with Charlie and you welcomed me with opened arms and I became a member of the family. You could light up a room with your presents and you so proved that at our wedding, you were the hit singing your heart out. Then there was the birth of our daughter and the surprise of my life you and Ralph came to welcome her to the family. You made such an impression on my dad that on one of his trips he surprised you with a visit in Colorado. I am so blessed to have had you in my life and all the special memories you have given me. Love you Cheryl
Uncle Al I will always miss you. We always laughed and had fun when you were around. Rest in Peace. Love N ick and Briana
My dear Uncle Al: It breaks our hearts to say goodbye to you. We will as always remember all the good times. The bus rides. The time we enjoyed the motor bikes. It was amazing after you moved to Colorado when we knew you came to visit we all couldn’t w as it to see you. You will be always loved and alwasys missed! Forever in our Hearts! Rest in peace until we can sing again in heaven. The Angel’s Will Rejouce. Love Kathy and Ralph
You were a unique character like no other my father-in-law! Who else would yell at their newly minted son-in-law on the day he married your daughter just because I made a wrong turn driving your inebriated xxx home. We had a glass of wine together more than a few times over all those years and all I had to do was listen. I don’t know if all those stories were exactly accurate….but, they were fun to hear.and got better over time. I too will miss you. I too loved you.
Dear Dad: My heart is broken. It gives me comfort to know that you are with mommy and Annette. I am going to keep in my heart your smile and the twinkle in your eyes when you saw your grandchildren and great grandchildren in person or on Skype.The love you have shown them is like no other. I will miss you forever. I love you daddy.
I couldn’t have written this better myself. I will ALWAYS miss him; his laugh, his stories, his personality, everything. R.I.P., always, Pop.
I will always remember Uncle Al with a twinkle in his eye and a laugh forming on his lips. He had the best stories to tell of his days driving the bus.
And I remember his generosity foremost. He let my mom, dad and me live in his already busy household when we moved back from Florida. I will always be grateful for that.
He was a big personality and he will be missed.