Joseph James Giallombardo's Obituary
Joseph (Joe) Giallombardo passed away in Richardson, Texas on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, having lived 94 years, 9 month and 5 days. Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Edith (Cramer) Giallombardo with whom he celebrated 70 years of marriage, March 1, 2011. Joe and Edith had been residing at Atria Richardson Senior Living since Feb. 2011, having moved to Texas from the Chicago area (Wheeling, IL) in 2008. Joe is also survived by their four children: Dr. JoAnne Fraser (and husband Jim) of Columbia, SC and Edinburgh, Scotland; Sue Walker of Richardson, TX, Lynne Giallombardo (and husband Finlay McQuade) of Brunswick, ME and Selcuk, Turkey; and Jay Giallombardo (and wife Helen) of Glenview, IL; their 12 grandchildren: Wendy Walker Harmon (husband Paul) of Dallas, Lynanne Walker Rhoades (husband Neal) of Morrisville, NC, Alison Fraser Dunham (husband Mark) of DeRidder, LA, Jamie Fraser (wife Allison) of Charlotte, NC, Jennifer Walker Rutter (husband Matt) of Ft. Worth, Scott Walker (wife Shannon) of Seattle, WA, Laura McQuire of Vienna, Austria, John McGuire (wife Sharon) of Salt Lake City ,UT, John Fraser of Charlottle,NC, Barbara Giallombardo of New York, NY, Joey Giallombardo and Anna Giallombardo of Glenview, IL; and 13 great-grandchildren: Grant Dunham, Jackson Rhoades, Joshua Dunham, Elie Harmon, Walker Rutter, Nicholas Dunahm, Henry Harmon, Will Rhoades, Ryder Rutter, Wilder Rutter, Hunter Harmon, Isla Fraser, and Leo Walker. In addition, Joe is survived by his remaining sibling, his dear sister, Mrs. Rose Corniello of Cleveland Heights, OH, his brother-in-law, Dean Cramer of Oblong, IL, 16 loving nieces and 2 nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Basilio and Benedetta (Sberna) Giallombardo, his older sister who was like a mother to him, Benedetta(called Bessie) Pintagro, his older brothers, Philip, Frank and Basil, and earlier this year his sister, Theresa Kulbokas. Joe was born in “Little Italy” area on Mayfield Road in Cleveland, OH in 1917. His parents immigrated from Sant’Agata di Militello, Sicily in 1913. When his mother died in 1924, Joe and his 3 brothers, Phil, Frank and Basil, were sent to Parmadale Orphanage for 4 years while his older sister, Bessie, cared for the youngest girls, Theresa and Rose, and his father worked nights as a laborer. After returning to the family home in 1928, his father, who spent many hours in the local library, insisted that they speak English at home and that Joe stay in school. He graduated from East Tech High School and having won numerous Ohio state high school and AAU championships, he was offered an athletic scholarship in gymnastics by Coach Hartley Price at the University of Illinois. At Illinois, Joe captained the gymnastics team, won 7 NCAA individual titles, 3 All-Around titles, 3 NCAA team championships 1938-1940, was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and was head cheerleader. Joe was named the Best Italian-American athlete in the U.S. in 1940 and was one of 5 nominees for the Sullivan Award for best amateur athlete in the U.S. His 7 individual national titles is in the Guiness Book of Records and still stands today. After college Joe coached for 35 years at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL where he founded the Illiinois HS Gymnastic Coaches Association. His teams won many state and individual titles and he was honored as the “Father of Illinois HS Gymnastics” upon his retirement in 1975. After retirement Joe served as an international judge at several World Gymnastic meets and was invited to present the winning medals to the U.S. Olympians at several Olympic trials. Several of Joe’s high school gymnasts went on to win national titles in college and become both high school and college coaches in the sport. Joe’s honors continued with his election to the Helms Foundation Sports Hall of Fame, the U.S.G.A. (Gymnastics Association) Hall of Fame, and he was inducted into the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame where his bronze plaque is exhibted in the downtown sports arena. In the 1990’s, a local Chicago gymnastics club honored Joe by naming their annual tumbling tournament, the “Joe Giallombardo Invitational” and every year, Joe presented the winners their medals. Joe and Edith were faithful members of the Church of Christ, since their baptism at the church in Hutchison, KS during WW II. After enlisting as an officer in the U.S. Navy in 1942, Joe trained incoming Navy pilots in physical condtioning at naval air stations throughout the midwest during the war. In 1946, Joe and Edith, with daughters JoAnne and Sue, settled in Glenview, IL and Joe returned to his teaching and coaching at New Trier. They attended the Church of Christ in Evanston and were instrumental in relocating the congregation to Wilmette in the early 1960’s, having moved the family to Wilmette in 1953. Joe lead singing at the church well into his 80’s. He also served as deacon and later as elder while Edith was active in Sunday school teaching and Ladies Bible classes. During their other moves in retirement, they were members at Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin, Texas, at the church in Goreville, IL, and upon their last move to Texas, at Waterview and Buckingham Road church in the Richardson area. Outside of the church’s acapalla singing, Joe’s talent was most evident in his involvement in barbershop choruses. For 8 years he sang with the Austin (TX) ChordRangers and when he moved to Wheeling, IL in 1990, he joined his son Jay’s chorus, the New Tradition chorus. Joe sang in 12 International contests, winning 3 bronze medals, 8 consectutive silver medals and finally winning the gold medal in Nashville in 2001. He loved to sing the old songs and will be most remembered for singing the classic “Once Upon a Time” to both Edith and daughter Lynne at Lynne’s wedding reception in 2001. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Joe will be remembered for his love of family both immediate and extended, his church family, his beloved sport of gymnastics and the many, many students who were impacted by his dedication and continued concern through the years. His energy and enthusiasm in all that he did will live in the hearts of his loving family and the many athletes and kids who not only learned gymnastics but also learned life lessons from their Coach, our Dad. Hip-Hip-Hooray!! A celebration of Joe’s wonderful life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Northbrook IL with all his children and grandchildren, extended family, his church family and gymnastic friends from throughout the Chicago area. For more information contact Sue Walker 972-497-9680 or Jay Giallombardo 847-272-1022 or suewalker4@yahoo.com.
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