Obituary for Louis A D'Angio
Attorney Louis A D’Angio
On Monday, February 22nd, Waltham lost Attorney Louis A. D’Angio, a wonderful son, father, brother, cousin, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband and friend to many, many residents of Waltham.
Lou was born in Waltham on April 15, 1922, the oldest of 5 surviving children. With brains, wit, patience and perseverance, he lived the American Dream, achieving prosperity and success personally, professionally, and in civic affairs. A first generation American, he grew up in a large Italian family, surrounded by his siblings, aunts, and uncles. He was the oldest of 32 cousins. Living through the Depression of 1929-1930 left a mark on him, with business conditions bad for several years after. It was a constant struggle to survive and he has written about a memory of his mother cutting down an old winter coat to make a coat for his younger sister, Flora. But, he quipped, everyone was “in the same boat so you didn’t feel that poor”.
During the summer as a teenager, he worked part-time on farms in Lexington, Lincoln and Concord, making $1.50 for a ten hour day. Later, during the school year, he worked at his father’s shop on Bedford Street in Waltham. In 1939, he finished Waltham High School at age 17. He started at Northeastern University, commuting almost an hour and a half one way and at 40 cents fare round trip!
His education was interrupted by World War II and in 1943, after being sent to Northeastern University Engineering School to learn to be a Radar Technician for the US Army Signal Corp, he went for basic training at Camp Crowder in Missouri. He was headed for the Pacific theater of operations, when he was plucked out and sent to a railroad center in Ogden, Utah, where he was assigned as an interpreter for Italian prisoners of war captured in North Africa. In 1946, upon receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Northeastern University, where he earned a degree in business administration, Cum Laude. He furthered his studies, achieved a law degree from Boston University, and passed the Bar Exam in 1951, while working and tending bar at the Watch City Café on Moody Street in Waltham.
He worked for one year at the US Department of Labor and then at Savings Bank Life Insurance where he met his first wife, Eve Williams; they married in 1955. Shortly thereafter, he opened his own law practice and started a family.
In 1964, he ran for state representative as a Republican and, though receiving 7500 votes, he was not elected. The next year he ran for City Councillor at Large in Waltham and served two terms. In addition, he served on the Waltham Housing Commission.
He wanted to expose his 5 children to the world and their heritage so in the summer of 1969 they embarked on a trip to Italy, making the crossing upon the ocean liner The Michelangelo for a wonderful time of cruising, touring and visiting. Most summer vacations thereafter he went on camping trips to the Mohawk Trail State Park in western Mass, taking his children, and their cousins!!! During that time, he took his children on wonderful trips to Germany, Santo Domingo, Mexico, Bermuda, and Italy.
He was a lifelong member and supporter of the Republican Party and the Waltham Sons of Italy. An avid reader and lifelong learner, he remained curious about the world and its people up to his final years. Not just a student, he was a teacher and mentor to many family members, young lawyers, clients and friends from all over the world. He, along with his father, were astute investors and in the mid 1980s he started an investment club called Avanti to educate family and friends on the importance of investing and financial literacy. He was fascinated with his Italian heritage and genealogy, but loved America, its history, politics and freedom. By nature, he was serious but always kind, generous and well-informed to his siblings, members of his family and community.
In his later years, when responsibilities subsided he met his second wife, Kathyrn Howard, on a cruise and they married several years later. They spent time between Plymouth, MA and Pacific Grove, CA, where Kay still lives, where they made many new friends and graciously hosted friends and family. Together, he and Kay were avid travelers for 20 years, cruising the 7 Seas and visiting well over 50 countries including Russia, the Baltic countries, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia , along with many trips to Italy to see family. They visited every continent, except Antarctica. He often included his and Kay’s children and grandchildren along for wonderful cruises.
Ever the hardworking man, he practiced law until age 75, and for more than 50 years he shared his knowledge and advice with the wisdom of his father, the grace of his mother, and the support of his sisters and brother. He was a philanthropist and long-time supporter of Northeastern University and Boston University and long-time donor to many good causes including WGBH, the Salvation Army, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Doctors without Borders, to name a few. He was a life-long communicant of St Mary’s and Sacred Heart Churches of Waltham.
He spent his final years living in Waltham at Waltham Crossings regularly visited by his close relatives and popular among the residents and staff. He was predeceased by his son, Alfred “Fred” V D’Angio III, his parents, Alfred and Palma D’Angio, his brother, Alfred V D’Angio, Jr, his sister-in-law Carol D’Angio, and his son-in-law, Robert O Berger, III, Esq. He leaves his siblings Flora D’Angio of Waltham, Carl D’Angio and his wife Elinor of Reading, and Anita D’Angio of Waltham, his children, Richard of Waltham, Lucia D’Angio Berger, Esq. of Lexington, Louis, Jr. of Boston, and Edward “Ned” of California, his grandchildren, Jessica, Jillian, Lily, Lucia, Caroline, and Christina, and his great grandchildren, Zhaira, Luca, Donovan, Kason, Reese, Edie and Aaron. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and his extended family who loved him dearly.
For the safety of those we love and care about during this difficult time; and for those who wish to pay their respects to Lou and his family can do so in accordance with CDC, Federal, State and Local guidelines in the Brasco & Sons Memorial Funeral Home, 773 Moody Street, Waltham, MA., on Tuesday March 2nd from 2:00 - 4:00 & 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Following the Archdiocese of Boston guidelines, family & friends are welcome to gather and celebrate Lou's life and remember the love he shared with those he touched at a Funeral Mass at Saint Mary's Church, 145 School Street, Waltham on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. followed by his burial with United States Army Military Honors at Calvary Cemetery in Waltham.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to St Mary’s Church, , 145 School Street, Waltham.
On Monday, February 22nd, Waltham lost Attorney Louis A. D’Angio, a wonderful son, father, brother, cousin, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband and friend to many, many residents of Waltham.
Lou was born in Waltham on April 15, 1922, the oldest of 5 surviving children. With brains, wit, patience and perseverance, he lived the American Dream, achieving prosperity and success personally, professionally, and in civic affairs. A first generation American, he grew up in a large Italian family, surrounded by his siblings, aunts, and uncles. He was the oldest of 32 cousins. Living through the Depression of 1929-1930 left a mark on him, with business conditions bad for several years after. It was a constant struggle to survive and he has written about a memory of his mother cutting down an old winter coat to make a coat for his younger sister, Flora. But, he quipped, everyone was “in the same boat so you didn’t feel that poor”.
During the summer as a teenager, he worked part-time on farms in Lexington, Lincoln and Concord, making $1.50 for a ten hour day. Later, during the school year, he worked at his father’s shop on Bedford Street in Waltham. In 1939, he finished Waltham High School at age 17. He started at Northeastern University, commuting almost an hour and a half one way and at 40 cents fare round trip!
His education was interrupted by World War II and in 1943, after being sent to Northeastern University Engineering School to learn to be a Radar Technician for the US Army Signal Corp, he went for basic training at Camp Crowder in Missouri. He was headed for the Pacific theater of operations, when he was plucked out and sent to a railroad center in Ogden, Utah, where he was assigned as an interpreter for Italian prisoners of war captured in North Africa. In 1946, upon receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Northeastern University, where he earned a degree in business administration, Cum Laude. He furthered his studies, achieved a law degree from Boston University, and passed the Bar Exam in 1951, while working and tending bar at the Watch City Café on Moody Street in Waltham.
He worked for one year at the US Department of Labor and then at Savings Bank Life Insurance where he met his first wife, Eve Williams; they married in 1955. Shortly thereafter, he opened his own law practice and started a family.
In 1964, he ran for state representative as a Republican and, though receiving 7500 votes, he was not elected. The next year he ran for City Councillor at Large in Waltham and served two terms. In addition, he served on the Waltham Housing Commission.
He wanted to expose his 5 children to the world and their heritage so in the summer of 1969 they embarked on a trip to Italy, making the crossing upon the ocean liner The Michelangelo for a wonderful time of cruising, touring and visiting. Most summer vacations thereafter he went on camping trips to the Mohawk Trail State Park in western Mass, taking his children, and their cousins!!! During that time, he took his children on wonderful trips to Germany, Santo Domingo, Mexico, Bermuda, and Italy.
He was a lifelong member and supporter of the Republican Party and the Waltham Sons of Italy. An avid reader and lifelong learner, he remained curious about the world and its people up to his final years. Not just a student, he was a teacher and mentor to many family members, young lawyers, clients and friends from all over the world. He, along with his father, were astute investors and in the mid 1980s he started an investment club called Avanti to educate family and friends on the importance of investing and financial literacy. He was fascinated with his Italian heritage and genealogy, but loved America, its history, politics and freedom. By nature, he was serious but always kind, generous and well-informed to his siblings, members of his family and community.
In his later years, when responsibilities subsided he met his second wife, Kathyrn Howard, on a cruise and they married several years later. They spent time between Plymouth, MA and Pacific Grove, CA, where Kay still lives, where they made many new friends and graciously hosted friends and family. Together, he and Kay were avid travelers for 20 years, cruising the 7 Seas and visiting well over 50 countries including Russia, the Baltic countries, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia , along with many trips to Italy to see family. They visited every continent, except Antarctica. He often included his and Kay’s children and grandchildren along for wonderful cruises.
Ever the hardworking man, he practiced law until age 75, and for more than 50 years he shared his knowledge and advice with the wisdom of his father, the grace of his mother, and the support of his sisters and brother. He was a philanthropist and long-time supporter of Northeastern University and Boston University and long-time donor to many good causes including WGBH, the Salvation Army, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Doctors without Borders, to name a few. He was a life-long communicant of St Mary’s and Sacred Heart Churches of Waltham.
He spent his final years living in Waltham at Waltham Crossings regularly visited by his close relatives and popular among the residents and staff. He was predeceased by his son, Alfred “Fred” V D’Angio III, his parents, Alfred and Palma D’Angio, his brother, Alfred V D’Angio, Jr, his sister-in-law Carol D’Angio, and his son-in-law, Robert O Berger, III, Esq. He leaves his siblings Flora D’Angio of Waltham, Carl D’Angio and his wife Elinor of Reading, and Anita D’Angio of Waltham, his children, Richard of Waltham, Lucia D’Angio Berger, Esq. of Lexington, Louis, Jr. of Boston, and Edward “Ned” of California, his grandchildren, Jessica, Jillian, Lily, Lucia, Caroline, and Christina, and his great grandchildren, Zhaira, Luca, Donovan, Kason, Reese, Edie and Aaron. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and his extended family who loved him dearly.
For the safety of those we love and care about during this difficult time; and for those who wish to pay their respects to Lou and his family can do so in accordance with CDC, Federal, State and Local guidelines in the Brasco & Sons Memorial Funeral Home, 773 Moody Street, Waltham, MA., on Tuesday March 2nd from 2:00 - 4:00 & 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Following the Archdiocese of Boston guidelines, family & friends are welcome to gather and celebrate Lou's life and remember the love he shared with those he touched at a Funeral Mass at Saint Mary's Church, 145 School Street, Waltham on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. followed by his burial with United States Army Military Honors at Calvary Cemetery in Waltham.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to St Mary’s Church, , 145 School Street, Waltham.