Mario Digiorgio

DiGiorgio, Mario of Quincy 90 years of age, passed away peacefully at Marina Bay Skilled Nursing Facility after a period of failing health on Feb. 16, 2011. The devoted husband of 50 years to the late Petrina Kristin “Kris” (Kristjansson) Survived by three loving children, Nancy Ann of Long Beach, CA, Robert Frank and Sigrid Victoria both of Wollaston. Born in Avellino Italy on Sept. 6, 1920 the son of the late Francesco DiGiorgio and Nunzia Anna (Yandollai) DiGiorgio. He was the brother of the late Anna (DiGiorgio) Sansone of Quincy and Paul DiGiorgio of Providence, RI. He was a resident of the Wollaston area of Quincy for 55 years, after living in Indiana and Ohio. Mario immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1924 and grew up in Bristol, RI. He attended Bristol High School, but left before graduation to work in his Uncle’s spaghetti factory to help his family after his father became ill. Mario received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Indiana Technical Institute in 1948. He served as a corporal in the United States Army Air Corp. during WWII, where he received the EMAE Theatre Ribbon and the American Theatre Ribbon. Mario was stationed in Kefalik Iceland, where he met his wife Kris. He retired from Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation as a consultant – Cost Engineer in 1986. He was the past president, Boston Chapter of AACE ( American Assoc. of Cost Engineers) and was a member of ASME ( American Society of Mechanical Engineers) sine 1963. He traveled extensively for work and during 1958-1961 he was located in Greenland where he worked for the U.S. Goverment on the Ballistic Missile Warning System to detect incoming ballistic missiles over the Northern Hemisphere during the Cold War. After his retirement from Stone & Webster, Mario was a Consultant to the Salt River Project (SRP) in Phoenix, Arizona. While residing in Arizona, Mario and his wife Kris traveled throughout the Southwest. He loved the Southwest culture, embracing Stetson hats, bear claw belt buckles and bolo ties. After returning to Quincy and settling back in the family home, he enjoyed painting, singing and gardening. He also enjoyed the daily Senior Stroll at the South Shore Plaza, where he met many friends. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation on Monday morning from 9-10am in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St. Quincy, followed by a funeral home service at 10:30am. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association of Massachusetts, 311 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA.