Ubaldo "Robert" Tunno

Ubaldo 'Robert' Tunno

Ubaldo "Robert" Tunno passed away March 11, 2013 at home with his family at his bedside. He was born October 24, 1915 in L'Aquila, Italy. He was the son of Bernardo and Maria Giovanna (Equizi) Tunno. He immigrated to the United States in 1929. With most of his family in Italy and no jobs available during the depression, he served two terms in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Robert worked for several years at Colonial Steel and was a standout pitcher on the company softball team.

He married Mary Lousie Carcaise in 1940 and served in World War II in the European Theater, in the 3rd Army as a medic under General George S. Patton, and later served in the infantry.

Using the G.I. Bill, after the war he became a bricklayer and was a member of Local 7, working nearly 40 years in construction. Robert was a member of Holy Family Church in New Brighton, PA.  In retirement Robert enjoyed bowling with the Beaver Valley Retired Persons League and played bocce in two different leagues. He was a member of the Sons of Italy and the American Legion. He was also a member of the Youngstown Morra League and the first person ever inducted into their Hall of Fame.

Gardening was his passion; he loved to make things grow. His garden and fruit trees produced a bounty of delicious fruits and vegetables, most of which he gave to family, friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed making wine, prosciutto and dried sausage, a tradition he passed onto his children and grandchildren. Robert was unique because of his happiness and contentment with what he had in life, living by the words, "Do the best you can," and set an extraordinary example of strength, forgiveness and kindness.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Louise (Carcaise) Tunno and infant son Robert Bernard, and siblings, Sara Tunno, Ferdinando Tunno and Olindo Tunno.

Surviving are his siblings, Milena Tunno, Sesto Tunno and Sara Scassa (L'Aquila, Italy) and Richard Tunno (Blanche), Rochester PA, and his children Bernard Tunno (Donna), Canfield, OH, Robert Tunno (Patty), Greensburg, PA, Mary Tunno, Carnegie, PA, Fran Tunno Mills, Glendale, CA; grandchildren, Marc Tunno, Columbiana, OH, Matthew Tunno (Elissa), Fox Chapel, PA, Christopher Tunno, St Louis, MO, Patrick Tunno, State College, PA, Anderson Mills, Glendale, CA, Milena Mills, Glendale, CA, and great-grandchildren, Dominic Tunno, Julia Tunno and Nathaniel Tunno.

Friends will be received Thursday, March 14, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the J&J SPRATT FUNERAL HOME, 1612 Third Ave., New Brighton, www.jjsprattfh.com, where prayers will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in the Holy Family Parish. The Rev. Father Tom Kredel will officiate.

Entombment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum, Daugherty Twp.

The Beaver County Special Unit will provide full military rites at 11 a.m. at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum.

The family wishes to acknowledge the kindness and loving attention of his round the clock caregivers who tended to him during the last years of his life. They appreciated his sense of humor and wit and he truly appreciated them.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

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