CHARDON – Vincent R. Staffileno, age 89, passed away March 17, 2020, at his home in Chardon, surrounded by family.
He was born Oct. 23, 1930, in Wellsburg, W. Va., to James and Katherine (nee Karen) Staffileno, and had been a longtime Ohio resident.
An early interest in how things work led him to study mechanical engineering at Washington & Jefferson College and Carnegie Mellon University. After graduation, he served in the Army during the Korean War.
Over the following years, Vince worked on a variety of projects at Hickok Electrical Instruments, Guilford Instruments, Actron and Arrow International. He brought his experience to Technicare, a division of Johnson & Johnson, where he was a part of the team that developed the first CAT scanner.
The position he held the longest and enjoyed the most was when, upon retirement, he joined his son Mike’s construction group, Chagrin River Company, as the accountant. He remained there for nearly 25 years and worked until just a few months before he passed.
He had many interests outside of work. Gardening was his favorite activity and he raised vegetables and flowers every year. As a member of the Cleveland Men’s Garden Club, he wrote an award-winning newsletter. With Friends of the Rockefeller Greenhouse, he participated in all aspects of the organization, including fundraising through the annual poinsettia and bulb sales.
At Lantern Court Garden at Holden Arboretum, he led private tours of the grounds. He learned to watercolor through classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art. He had a keen interest in the stock market, and personally managed his own portfolio.
Golf was his favorite sport and he played as often as he could, at courses all around the country.
Attending weekly church services was an important part of his life, and he was a member and usher at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in both Chardon and Hudson.
Above all, he put family first, and was a loving husband, father and uncle to a large extended family.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia (nee Walsh) Corrigan, of Chardon; children, Mike (Patricia) Staffileno, of Chardon, and Lisa (Tom) Laube, of San Diego, Calif.; stepchildren, Nora (Jose) Lopez, of Westpark, Erin (Matthew) Martin, of Chester Township, Betsey (Brian) McGann, of Westerville, and Leah (Matt) O’Donnell, of Chardon; four grandchildren, Kevin, Marie, Alex and Emily Rose; seven step-grandchildren, Chloe, Jovanni, Lily, Saffron, Elise, Rolando, Miles; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rosie (nee Galay) Staffileno; stepson Paul (Kelly) Corrigan; and step-grandchildren Logan and Braden.
Services will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Friends of Greenhouse, Rockefeller Park Greenhouse in Cleveland.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Potti & Marc F. Burr Funeral Homes. Obituary, online condolences and memorial gifts available at www.marcfburrfuneralhome.com.