Ashtabula County, Ohio

September 4, 2002

Basil T. Pignotti

CONNEAUT - Basil T. (Bill) Pignotti, age 77, of Conneaut, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, at Hamot Medical Center following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Pignotti was born March 9, 1925, the son of Michael and Louise (Cifelli) Pignotti, and was a Conneaut resident all his wife.

He was a 1944 graduate of Conneaut High School.  He was the owner and operator of The Swan Cafe for 25 years until he sold it in 1973.  He was an automobile salesman for the next 18 years, working for Nassief, Gil Lieber and Greg Sweet before retiring in 1991.  He was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Church.

Mr. Pignotti was a T-5th Grade in the 4th Division Batter B 42nd F.A. in the United States Army, serving in World War II.  He was in the Invasion of Normandy, going in on Utah Beach.  He was in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was trapped for two weeks before Patton's Third Army came to the rescue.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 627, a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 943 and was a Life Member of the American Legion Post 151.  He was also a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose 472 and the Benevolent Protective order of Elks, Chapter 208.

He was a member of several automobile clubs including The Buick Gold Crest Club, The Buick Professional Sales Master and The Oldsmobile Vanguard.  He was also an avid sports fan.

Mr. Pignotti is survived by his wife, Eleanor E. (Gabriel) Pignotti, whom he married May 7, 1949, in Ashtabula; three children, Michael B., Louise E. LeBlanc and Carmela E. DiPofi, Diana (DiPofi) Osborne, Cody Pignottie and Angela LeBlanc, all of Conneaut, and Hope Pitnotti of Woodstock, Georgia; one great granddaughter, Katie Osborne of Conneaut; a brother, Anthony (Tony) Pignotti, and a sister, Anne Marie Gildone, both of Conneaut. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Vincent; a sister, Vincina Nappi; a granddaughter, Lori LeBlanc; and a son-in-law, David J. DiPofi.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 2002, at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.  Father Raymond Thomas will officiate.

Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Conneaut, where full military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Post 151.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002, at the Raisian Funeral Home, 581 Harbor St., Conneaut.  A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Administration, Erie, Pa., and Station Three Rescue Squad.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.