Charles Robert Magadini

Magadini, Charles Robert
Engineer who Built Phoenix, Dead at 93. Charles Robert Magadini of Dallas, formerly of Phoenix, died peacefully in his sleep of congestive heart failure on November 3, 2010. He was 93 years of age. Born in Great Barrington, MA on February 27, 1917, he was the son of Severino Magadini and Amelia Bosani. He was only four when Severino was killed in a train accident so his mother shuffled him between Aunts and friends until she later married Eugene Caligari. After high school, he worked as a U.S. Postal Clerk. On December 28, 1940, he married his beloved wife, Ruth Sara Baldwin of Great Barrington, MA. In 1942, Charles enlisted in the United States Army Air Force and served as a First Lieutenant until the war ended in 1945. He was a pilot of the 58th Troop Carrier Squadron, 375th Troop Carrier Group, and 54th Wing known as the "Tokyo Trolleys". His tour of duty included the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations with the mission of transporting troops, wounded soldiers, and cargo. His Curtiss-Wright C46 was the first allied aircraft onto Japanese soil at Atsugi air base the day after Emperor Hirohito's surrender speech on August 15, 1945, thus beginning his mission to transport the released POWs out of Japan. After completion of his military service, he enrolled in the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, where he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering, specializing in Structural Engineering and was graduated in 1950 cum laude. The family relocated from Van Nuys, CA to Phoenix in 1956, when Architect Ed Varney hired him and later assisted Charles establish his own structural engineering firm in 1958. His firm grew to include partner Jay Alagia and esteemed engineers Mac Elliot and his later partnered with Dave Jarrol. At the height of their success, Magadini-Alagia Associates employed more than 60 engineers and support staff and was responsible for the structural design of more than 2,000 buildings including the Maricopa County Courts and Arizona State Supreme Court buildings, Phoenix Sky Harbor, the Phoenix Convention Center, Sun Devil Stadium as well as numerous hotels, hospitals, auditoriums, office and shopping complexes. Charles was professionally registered in 24 states including California. A specialty was seismic evaluation for existing and new construction. He was an inventor and creative thinker, holding patents for a method of reinforcing girders; increasing the load capacity of beams; and vertical adjustable hangers for pictures. A member of Mensa International, he would avidly ponder a puzzle and ultimately find a solution. At the age of 80, he retired from his full time practice but continued to serve as a consultant and provided engineering testimony as an expert witness in court cases. In 2004, his cherished wife of 64 years passed and his grief was a concern to all who loved him. In 2007 he moved to Dallas where he met the young Ms Marion Nichols, 3 years his junior. Together, they enjoyed pleasant days of laughing and living life. He was lovingly embraced by all of the Nichols family members. He was predeceased by two brothers, Aldo and Adorno Magadini and half-brother William Caligari. He is survived by four children: Peter Charles Magadini and his wife Helene of Novato, CA, Christopher Michael Magadini and his wife Jamie Shenkman of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Patricia Ann Magadini and her husband Randy Johnston of Dallas and Debra "Lee" Magadini of Phoenix; four grandchildren, Morgan Searl, Niko, Britt, and Gregoire Magadini; seven step-grandchildren, Jessica Johnston Seals , Coyt Johnston, Meredith Blair, Vanessa Borton, Brandon Johnston, Brett Johnston and Abigail Johnston, and four step-great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, his loved ones ask that you consider gifts to the Arizona Humane Society in honor of his late dogs Frankie, Shadow, and Timmy. Funeral services will be held on November 8th, at 4:00PM at the Greenwood Memory Lawn Serenity Mauseleum: 719 N. 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009. A memorial service will be held on November 12th, 2010, at 2:00PM at the First Christian Church: 6750 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013. A reception will be held immediately after the service.