Robert DiGiallonardo

Robert William DiGiallonardo (Bob) passed peacefully at The Pines of Polson Memory Care Facility on September 1,2017.

Bob was born on November 19, 1934 in Louisville, Colorado. He was the fourth of six children born to Mary DiPietro and Thomas DiGiallonardo. Bob graduated from Louisville High School in 1952 and started college in Greeley, Colorado at Colorado State Teachers College. After one year, he decided to join the Army and see the world. After completing his military obligations, first in California and then to Germany, he returned home to Louisville. Bob and Jackie met and married in 1957 and then moved to Greeley to finish school. He intended to become a teacher/coach, but he found he had a knack for sales and an interest in science. He ended up in Pharmaceutical sales for over 30 years. During those years, they managed to live in student housing, have two daughters and one son. His career sent him to Denver, Colorado where they lived for 35 years, adding another son to complete their family. As empty nesters, Bob and Jackie moved to New Castle, Delaware to follow her job. They lived in New Castle for 20 years. Bob’s health issues began, and he ended up having a heart transplant in May, 2003. Bob and Jackie and their daughter, Marisa moved to Polson in October, 2015 from New Castle so Bob could end his journey at The Pines and to be near his sons and most of his grandchildren. Bob suffered for several years with Lewy-body Dementia and needed full time memory care. He accepted this scourge with humor and patience and only rarely did he lash out to his caretakers. He loved them all.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers, Frank, Nick and Tom. He leaves behind, his best friend, caretaker, partner and wife for 60 years, Jackie, daughters Marisa, Patricia (Chris), sons Tom (Jeanette) and Bob (Lisa), sisters Aline, and Linda (John) twelve grandchildren Tara, Mike, Rob (Brittany), Nicole, Jake, Julia, Vincent, Anna, Daniel, Dominic and David; and soon a great-grandson, Thomas Mark. He is also survived by an Aunt and Uncle, brothers in law and sister in law, many nieces, nephews and cousins and good friends.

The family wants to thank the wonderful folks at The Pines for almost two years of dedicated and loving care. (Michael Coe, Larry and Cindy Parker, Susan, Jennifer and Sam were with Bob almost every day) along with all the other hardworking staff members over the years. Another special thanks to Father Steven Yurosko for always attending to Bob’s spiritual needs and Dr. Dan Rausch who cared for his physical needs .

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to The Pines of Polson, c/o Michael Coe, 406 6th Ave. East, Polson, MT 59860 in Bob’s memory. A Memorial Celebration will be held sometime next summer at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Polson, to enable any and all family and friends to attend.