Obituary of Leo Cinaglia

Leo Cinaglia Obituary: Leo Cinaglia (91) passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at Spring Oak Assisted Living. Leo was born May 10, 1924 in Pittsburgh, Pa. to Joseph and Frances (Manato) Cinaglia. His family relocated to Camden, NJ shortly after his birth. After the death of his mother in 1931 he and his siblings resided at St. Michael's Orphange in Hopewell, NJ. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served in World War II as a gun crewman in the European Theater of Operations. In 1946, he found and married the love of his life, Virginia Granato. They moved to Minotola, NJ where they raised their four children and became lifelong residents. Soon after moving to Minotola, Leo was hired as an apprentice meat cutter by the Food Fair Company . After several years of serving as a meat cutter he was promoted to Meat Manager and was subsequently elected first, as a District Steward representing union members in the South Jersey Area and later as an Executive Board Member at Local 56, affiliated with the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America. Leo quickly moved up the ranks. He served as Vice President of Local 56 and President of the Retail Joint Council of Philadelphia and vicinity. In 1980, he was elected President of Local 56 and International Vice President of the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union headquartered in Washington, DC. He held both positions for 12 years. He was most noted for accomplishing innovative negotiations and benefit packages with long term job guarantees in addition to developing plans that fully funded the Retail Meat Pension Fund. As the union leader, Leo was most proud of the Medical Arts Building next to the Local Union's office in Pennsauken, NJ. It was built to accommodate union members as part of their benefit package through their negotiated contracts. Leo was the primary planner and principal designer of the medical complex and after his retirement, the building was rededicated on March 26, 1999 and is now known as the "Leo Cinaglia Medical Building". Leo was a man who dedicated his life to serving others in need. He was the founder and chair of the St. Augustine Gregor Mendel Award, served on the Board of Directors at the Seabrook House and was a Trustee of the Juvenile Resource Center in Camden, NJ. He was also one of the driving forces in raising thousands of dollars for charities in the Greater Delaware Valley. He received citations from the American Trade Union Council for Histradut (Israel States of Israel Bonds) and was the 1989 Boys Town of Italy Man of the Year. Leo was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He spent the last 15 years of his life as caretaker for his wife, Virginia, who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease. Prior to that time, however, Leo enjoyed traveling abroad with Virginia and their friends. He especially enjoyed his visit to Israel with his good friend, Dr. Walter Pavlin. He had a thirst for knowledge which lead to his love to read and learn especially about religion and the universe. He also loved playing cards (pinochle or rummy), meeting his retired buddies for breakfast or lunch and listening / singing (especially to Virginia) along to music of the 40's, 50's and 60's in addition to classical opera. Leo was also a real handyman. With very little professional assistance he converted the entire basement into a living space that included a kitchen, living room, office, 1/2 bathroom and laundry area in order to gain additional living space to accommodate his growing family. Leo is survived by his children; son, Joseph (Susan) Cinaglia; daughters, Mary F. Capriotti (fiancé, Dr. John Herrmann) and Theresa (Skip) Dell; grandchildren Michelle (Jonathan) Graiff, Michael (Holly) Capriotti, Stephen Hague (fiancée, Brittini Bernardini), Kristyn and Katelyn Hague; great grandchildren Alexandra Graiff, Marco, Milania and Avalina Capriotti; brother, Howard of Sarosota, Florida and many nieces, nephews and friends. Leo was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, of 68 years, son Anthony R. Cinaglia, his parents, Joseph and Frances Cinaglia and siblings, Lillian Troto, Mafalda Quaranto, and Eleanor Cinaglia. A funeral mass will be celebrated at noon, Monday, August 10th at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, St. Michael's Church, 504 W. Ave., Minotola. Entombment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Vineland. Friends and family will be received on Monday morning from 10 am to 11:45 AM at the church. Donations in memory of Leo can be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org). Arrangements are by DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home, 2755 S. Lincoln Ave., Vineland, NJ.