William C. Lombardi

Waltham – Mr. William C. Lombardi, of Waltham, died Saturday, September 24, 2011 at his home. He was 83.

Bill was born in Waltham on March 30, 1928, the middle child of the late Calogero and Francesca (Chiofaro) Lombardi, both natives of Aragona, Sicily. Despite the fact that he was baptized Girolamo, he like so many of his generation, were re-named once they got to school. In Bill's case his name became William, although those who knew him best called him by his lifelong nickname, 'MooMoo'.

During his senior year at Waltham High School he was drafted into the United States Army, serving as a corporal with his unit in the Philippines before being discharged in 1947. The city's school department held a special ceremony for Bill and many of the veterans of his era, officially awarding them the diploma they'd earned years earlier. Three years after he left the Army he married his sweetheart, Geraldine Morreale, on June 4, 1950 and the two settled in Waltham to raise their family.

After the war he went to work for Davidson Fan Company, which later became Lytron, and spent a thirty-five year career, first as a sheet metal fabricator and foreman before becoming a production manager. After that Bill went to work for the City of Waltham's building department and housing authority.

He was a longtime member of Waltham's Dante Alighieri Lodge #648, Sons of Italy in America, where he was also a past president. When he was able to travel, Bill and his wife went on yearly cruises, including trips to see their family's native Sicily and to the warm beaches of Hawaii. It was when his grandchildren started coming along that Bill found his greatest joy and sense of accomplishment.

Bill leaves his wife of 61 years, Geraldine (Morreale) Lombardi; his children, Charles W. Lombardi and his wife, Dianne, of Waltham, Frances Trundle and her husband, Robert, of Framingham, Marie Millian and her husband, Robert, Jr.; Linda Connors and her husband, Joseph, all of Waltham and Jerome Lombardi and his wife, Keeley, of Freetown; his grandchildren, Thomas Trundle, Jill Hogan and her husband, Daniel, Robert Millian, III, Anthony Lombardi, Michael Lombardi, John Connors, William Connors, Sadie Lombardi, Francesca Lombardi, Jerome Lombardi and Camille Lombardi; his great-grandchildren, Tristan and Braeden Trundle and many nieces and nephews.

His older brother Nicholas Lombardi and younger sister, Sadie Lombardi predeceased him.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bill's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, September 27th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.