Obituary of Gabriel E. Nardella

Gabriel E. Nardella passed away March 4, 2013 from complications of a recent stroke. Gabriel was born in the family home on Lods St. in Akron on March 28, 1921. He was the oldest of six children of Emanuel and Teresa Nardella. His passions in life were his family, music, "old world" Italian heritage, travel, gardening and long conversations at the kitchen table with his many friends and relatives. Gabriel was a noted musician and band leader throughout Northeast Ohio. He performed with Jack and the Drifters and later with his wedding band, Showtyme. For more than 60 years, this gifted accordion and organ player, entertained at the weddings of three generations of families. In the 1940ʼs, Gabe and his band performed daily on WJW radio and weekly on WPIC in Sharon, PA. During World War II, he served his country for 3 1/2 years in the Army. While in the army, he learned to repair radios. Upon returning to Akron, he opened a radio shop, adjacent to his parentʼs home. His shop featured the first television set in North Hill. Neighbors lined up in front of his store window for hours to get a glimpse of this new invention. On August 9, 1947, Gabe married the late Katherine Putz Nardella. They celebrated 51 years of marriage and raised three children, Kathleen, Gabriel, and Cynthia. For 36 years, Gabe sold organs and Steinway Pianos at Akron Music Center and OʼNeilʼs Department Store, where he managed the Music Department and gave accordion lessons. While at OʼNeilʼs, Gabe initiated the highly successful "Breakfast with Santa" and "Breakfast with the Easter Bunny" events. For years, Gabe could be found in the Georgian Room entertaining happy children and their parents by playing his Hammond organ. Gabe thoroughly enjoyed cooking the traditional dishes he learned from his mother, Teresa. His kitchen was the center of life and laughter for his extended Italian family. The sweet aroma of his specialties, eggplant parmesan, pasta fagiole, spaghetti sauce, polenta, and homemade pepperoni pizza, would fill the North Hill neighborhood. Gabe especially enjoyed the seven trips he made to Italy, where he visited relatives in San Marco in Lamis, near Foggia. He maintained contact with them throughout his life. The 2003 trip was a highlight for him because he was accompanied by his whole family. These visits inspired him to create a family tree which numbered some 650 names. It was not uncommon for Gabe to assist other families in researching and compiling their history. He is preceded in death by his parents, Emanuel and Teresa; wife, Katherine; sisters, Angeline, Carmel, Antoinette and brother, Peter. He is survived by his children, Kathleen (Thomas) Allio, Gabriel (Joseph) Nardella, Cynthia (Gary) Plummer; his grandchildren, Anthony and Joseph (fiancé Lisa Petitti) Allio, Chelsea, Madeline and Matthew Marigliano-Nardella; his sister, Grace Pappano, and many, loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, who he cherished. The family extends its gratitude to the medical staff at Summa CCU, Visiting Nurse and, Traditions Nursing Home, and Doctors Burick, Weygrn, Chandler, and Russo. The family will receive friends at the Anthony Funeral Home (Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel), 1990 S. Main St., Akron, on Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 4 to 8 pm. A Mass in memory of Gabriel's life will be celebrated Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:30 am at St. Anthony Parish, 83 Mosser Pl, Akron, 44310. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MGM Peter Nardella Memorial/First Tee, 253 Broke Fence Dr., Medina, Ohio 44256. (Anthony, Akron, 330.724.1281, anthonyfh.com)