Obituary of Gabriel Alfred Nardi

abriel Alfred "Gabe" Nardi, 80, of Morgantown, passed away Thursday morning, February 14, 2013 at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was born April 14, 1932 in Hamden, CT a son of the late Alfred Nardi, and the late Josephine DiDomenic Nardi. Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Anne H. Nardi; four children, Gabriel Alfred Nardi, Jr. and his wife Tiffany of Coral Springs, FL, Mary Elizabeth Nardi Micucci and her husband Joseph of Park Ridge, IL, Anne Marie Nardi Fitzgerald and her husband Scott of Aurora, IL and Michael Robert Nardi of Morgantown; his grandchildren, Brooke and Presley Nardi, Brian, Jack and Grace Micucci, and JP, Matthew, Kaitlin and Ryan Fitzgerald; siblings, Ralph Nardi and his wife Sarah of Southington, CT, Gregoria Nardi Halley of Sarasota, FL, Joseph Nardi of Cheshire, CT, Josephine Nardi Goulett and her husband Joseph of Durham, CT, and Frances Nardi of West Haven, CT.; and brother-in-law, Stephen Higginbotham and his wife Janet of Gulfport, MS. He is also survived by a favorite aunt, Marie DiDomenic Castracane of West Haven, CT, and 12 nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Alfred John Nardi. Gabe attended Quinnipiac College and received his BA from Southern Connecticut State Teachers College (now known as Southern Connecticut University). He earned his MS and Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He served in the U. S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. In 2005 he retired from West Virginia University as Professor Emeritus in Special Education after 39 years of service. He served as the Vice President for Education for the American Association on Mental Retardation, was President of the WV state chapter of that association (now known as the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities), and was the faculty advisor for the WU Student Chapter of that group. He was a member of the Council on Exceptional Children and the American Psychological Association. He was responsible for first bringing Special Olympics to Monongalia County and was an avid photographer chronicling local events of the group. Additionally, he was remained actively involved with the Monongalia County Special Olympics and with the South Park Association of Neighbors (SPAN) where he served as treasurer for many years. He worked in local Democratic political campaigns serving as campaign treasurer for former Sheriff Joseph Bartolo and for Sheriff Allen Kisner. He was a member of OLLI and the Knights of Columbus and was a member of St. John University Parish. He was an avid amateur photographer who always had a camera in hand and a smile on his face. Always a creative person, he developed a love of and talent for watercolor painting in recent years. Gabe was a devoted husband, loving father, proud grandfather, and a good friend to many, Family and friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, on Sunday, February 17th from 2:00 - 5:45 PM. A Scriptural Wake Service will be held at 5:45 PM Sunday in the funeral home to conclude the visitation. On Monday, February 18th, Mr. Nardi will be moved to St. John University Parish, 1481 University Ave., Morgantown, WV where visitation will continue from 10:00 AM until the celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial at-11:00 AM with Father John Peck, OSB & Father Fred Byrne,OSB con-celebrating. Entombment will follow in St. Mary's Peace Garden Mausoleum, Star City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Mr. Nardi's name, please be made to either the Building Fund of St. John University Parish, 1481 University Ave., Morgantown, WV 26505, or to the WVU Foundation - Gabriel A. Nardi Memorial, 1 Waterfront Place, 7th Floor, Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650. Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com