Archie J. Boscardin

Archie J. Boscardin
Dec. 6, 1923 – Sept.13, 2024

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gerri.

Visitation begins Friday Sept. 20, 2024, 5:00pm with a Wake Service at 6:30pm at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday Sept. 21, 2024, 10:30am St. John Vianney Church. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers. Memorials to Siena Francis House.

Boscardin, Archie John, born December 6, 1923, age 100 years, died peacefully on September 13 after a gathering of his children (Stephan, Catherine, James, Patricia Jo), his grandchildren (Michael, Daniel, Jessica, Jennifer, Nathan) and his great grandchildren (Aranza, Adeline, Brooklyn, Keaton).

His parents, Silvestro and Caterina, were immigrants from Vicenza, a village in northern Italy, not far from Venice. He was the youngest of 5 surviving children, the oldest sister having died soon after childbirth. The family supplemented Silvestro’s wages as a locomotive repair engineer with wine his father would make and serve in his basement as the men played cards. Momma would offer simple food for a small price. While his father made the wine, only Momma could judge its maturity.

When the war approached, he joined the Merchant Marines. He then joined the Navy and was assigned as a radioman. He served from 1943 to 1947 on the attack transport USS Bolivar, carrying Marines and material. They ran assignments to Saipan and the Philippine islands. A sister ship in his group was destroyed by kamikaze pilots. His Morse code speed and low error rate as a radioman qualified him to send as well as receive. It was in that service that his hearing was damaged in a lightning storm. Of course, decades of work on industrial construction sites and later, as a union officer, perhaps listening to member’s complaints, also contributed. Upon discharge his brother-in-law, John Milota, encouraged him to enroll in the electrician’s apprenticeship program. He did so and was the top student every year of the program.

He met his wife, Gerri, when he reported for his first assignment. Gerri was the receptionist and secretary at the company. They soon married and produced four children, Stephen (Concetta), Catherine, James (Terri Melcher), and Patricia Jo. Raising the family, and the long hard work as an electrician, filled his life. It wasn’t long before he saw and heard things happening to the union membership that he didn’t think were right or fair. So, being who he was, he spoke up, loud and clear. He eventually was elected Financial Secretary of IBEW Local 22, and re-elected until he retired. Together with the Business Manager, Earl Oliver, and the many other hard-working members, they transformed Local 22 into a well-run, efficient and effective union for its members. These efforts also came to include efforts to more integrate the local. He also worked tirelessly with his good friend, and that patron of Labor, Terry Moore, to advance the recognition and cause of organized Labor. In all his work he was most proud of the fact that “I never lied to any of those guys.”

He had a well-deserved retirement with his wife. They enjoyed road trips to places like Maine to see the leaves in Fall. Archie lost his wife 17 years ago, after 59 years of marriage. In his sadness, he regularly attended mass and often stayed to pray for Gerri, and for acceptance. One day he realized that what he was going through would happen to one of the people in every couple he saw. This quality of character, recognizing that others are just like you, whatever you want to call it, drove his work for his fellow union brothers and sisters, as well as motivating the many good works he performed for the poor through the church. Anyone who knew him, knew his anthem: “Yeah, but what about the little guy!”

Pre-deceased by: Just about everybody you can think of.