NUNZIO S. LOMBARDOZZI, 82

WELLSVILLE – Former Wellsville mayor and lifetime community booster, organizer and volunteer Nunzio S. Lombardozzi, of Clover Street in Wellsville, passed away suddenly Saturday, November 26, 2016. He was 82.

Born at his family home in Wellsville on January 4, 1934, he was the son of the late Antonio and Mary DeFalco Lombardozzi.

As a young boy, he attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School, and went on to graduate from Wellsville High School in 1952. While in high school, he served as football and basketball manager and played varsity basketball. Following graduation, he served his country for two years with the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean Conflict, with thirteen months active service in Korea.

Nunzio had spent his lifetime in Wellsville and was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, having served as an usher since 1958. His faith had been an integral part of his life.

For 31 years, he was associated with the former Crucible Steel Company, and had been a foreman in the general labor department for 26 years. Following his retirement from Crucible in 1982 when the mill closed, Nunzio began a second career at Homer Laughlin China Company, where he served as Chief of Security for 27 years.

There is hardly a community organization that Nunzio had not been a part of, most notably serving as Wellsville Heart Fund Drive Chairman 18 times and working with the heart drive for over 37 years. He has held virtually every office in the Wellsville Jaycees and received several awards including Distinguished Service Award, and Jaycee of the Year. For many years, he had been heavily involved in charities such as Dollars for Scholars, Catholic Charities, Boy Scouts and Measure Up for Mental Health, and he was honored by The Morning Journal as one of Columbiana County’s Men and Women of the Year in 1983.

For over 13 years, Nunzio served as Wellsville Councilman, including 10 years as president pro-tem. He was the well known and much loved Mayor of Wellsville for eight years, and earned the unofficial title “Marrying Mayor of Wellsville” for officiating at over 330 weddings.

Nunzio had proudly held membership in the Knights of Columbus Council #507 since 1958 and served as Grand Knight of the council at one time. He was a past member of the East Liverpool American Legion Post #374, the Wellsville Eagles, Wellsville Lions Club, and Wellsville VFW Lodge #657. In addition, he had served as Director of Youth Baseball and was official timekeeper from 1952 to 1987 for the Wellsville High School football team. He also served as scorekeeper for the basketball team for 35 years.

Since 1958, Nunzio had been a member of the Wellsville Sons of Italy Lodge #657, and received the chapter’s #1 Citation award in 2007. He held virtually every office and most recently served as Chairman of the Building Committee to oversee a $100,000 addition to the S.O.I. building. Through his efforts, the annual Italian Festival has been reinstituted in Wellsville, and he has served as chairman of that event most every year since.

At one time, he served as Commissioner for the Columbiana County Metro Housing Authority and was also involved with the Hammond Park Commission as well as the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame where he was inducted in 2010. His most recent endeavors included community efforts such as the Village Fix-Up/Clean-Up Committee, which was created as a result of his lifetime desire to instill pride in his hometown and the Save Immaculate Conception Committee. Nunzio believed that every individual can make a difference.

Survivors also include his two sons, Anthony S. Lombardozzi and his wife, Joey, of Wellsville, along with Michael E. Lombardozzi, and his wife, Opal, of Wellsville.

Beloved grandchildren include Jennifer Cope and her husband, Jeff, Ashley Grope and her husband, Matt, Ayla Gorby and her husband, Eddie, Nunzio T. Lombardozzi, Antonia Lombardozzi and her companion, Gregory Beatty, Keila Lombardozzi, Tiffany Ordich and her husband, Josh, and Mindy Weaver, as well as great-grandchildren Tyler Gorby, Lexi Campbell, Courtney Campbell, Piper McDaniel, Rylee Brown, Aiden Merriman, Emma Gorby, Abigail Ordich, Zury Gorby, Mason Lombardozzi, Ava DuLaney, Bentley Lombardozzi, Connor McDaniel, Kingston Lombardozzi, Shelbee Cope, Azaiah Ordich and Harper Grope.

A sister, Rose Benedetto and her husband, John, of Wellsville also survives, along with a sister-n-law, Gloria Lombardozzi of Wellsville. There are also numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends whom Nunzio cared about deeply.

In addition to his mother and father, who passed away in 1975 and 1958 respectively, Nunzio was also predeceased by four sisters, Ida Infanti, Angeline Daniels, Lucy Biacco and an infant sister. Two brothers, Carmen P. Lombardozzi, and John Lombardozzi, also preceded him in death.

Friends may visit at the Dawson Funeral Home Tuesday where the family will be present from 2 to 8 p.m. Fr. Stephen Wassie will conduct Catholic Funeral Rites at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Burial will take place at St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Wellsville, where the Tri-State Veterans Burial group will provide full military honors.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

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