Arnaldo Gavazzi, 82
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. â€' Arnaldo Gavazzi, 82, of 153 State St. died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at Williamstown Commons.
Born in Cedrasco, Province of Sondrio, Italy, on July 14, 1927, son of Dominic and Amalia Mazzini Gavazzi, he attended schools in Italy and the United States and received a civil engineering degree in Italy.
A veteran of World War II, he fought as a partisan in Italy and was recognized by both houses of the state Legislature in 1998 for his service as a resistance fighter. He also served in the Army during the Korean War.
Mr. Gavazzi was the owner and operator of Arnaldo's Imports on State Street for more than 30 years. He also worked at former Sprague Electric and Arnold Print Works companies and Berkshire Superior Court and in construction on the Bear Swamp Project.
He was a member of the Dr. George L. Curran Post 996 VFW; Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion and the Italian American Club in Pittsfield.
His wife, the former Jennie Mary Ponti, whom he married on May 21, 1955, died on Jan. 22, 2001.
He leaves two sons, Eugene Gavazzi of Adams and Steven Gavazzi of North Adams; a daughter, Mary Rose Gavazzi-Haupt of Peru; two brothers, Italo Gavazzi of East Longmeadow and Augustino Gavazzi of Italy; two sisters, Mary Oberti of Adams and Anna Gavazzi of Italy, seven grandchildren, Gina, Mitchell, Jenivieve, Anthony, Christopher, Lauren, and Samuel, nieces and nephews
Two brothers are deceased, Gianni and Giulio Gavazzi.
FUNERAL NOTICE â€' A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Mr. Gavazzi will be celebrated Monday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Burial will be private.
Calling hours will be Sunday, Feb. 14, from 4 to 7 at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams. Memorial donations may be made to the Peru Volunteer Fire Department or St. Mary of the Assumption Church in care of the funeral home.