Otto Ciavardoni

Ciavardoni, Otto COHOES Otto Ciavardoni, age 86, completed his 31st mission on December 27, 2009, faithfully stepping into eternal life with his devoted wife Helen by his side as she has always been during their marriage of almost 64 years. Otto was born August 21, 1923 in Schenectady, N.Y., the son of the late Vincent and Antoinette Pardi Ciavardoni, and graduated in 1941 from Mont Pleasant High School, where he excelled at football. He enlisted in the U.S. Army 8th Air Force during World War II, and served as a bombardier for the 448th Bombardment Group (H), 713th Squadron stationed at Seething, England. Between December 22, 1943 and July 25, 1944, he completed 30 bombing missions while flying in the nose turret of a B-24 Liberator in the European Theater during the air offense over Germany and France. He flew three missions during the famous "Big Week" campaign over Germany, between February 20-25, 1944, and flew 27 other missions over a variety of other targets, including Berlin, Germany. He achieved the rank of captain, and was awarded the European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater Campaign Ribbon, the Air Medal with Three Oak Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. After his honorable discharge from "The Mighty Eighth", he married Helen Diviney on January 17, 1946. Before recently moving to Cohoes, they lived in Lansingburgh and raised five children who also survive him, Marcia (Peter) Cooper, Mark (Dawn) Ciavardoni, Marylyn (Raymond) Miller, John (Kelly) Ciavardoni and Paul Ciavardoni. Also survived by his loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Otto graduated from Siena College, and enjoyed a long and successful career as a bank examiner. He began with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and then worked 35 years for the New York State Banking Department until his retirement at age 70. He was also a longtime member of St. Augustine's Parish. Otto was predeceased by his sisters, Dora and Lola and by his brother, Arthur. Otto was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will always be remembered for his love, kindness, goodness, generosity and very good sense of humor. He graciously maintained these virtues despite a variety of medical conditions, particularly those which significantly limited his activities during the past nine months. He was most appreciative of the care, time and attention his wife Helen always provided to him, especially during the last nine months of his life. Otto belonged to a generation whose toughness, sacrifice and humility will forever be admired and hopefully duplicated again someday. The "Big O" enjoyed a long and happy life. While he will be deeply missed by those who love him, the strength of his love and influence will endure. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. from the Frank P. McDonald & Son Funeral Home, 870 Second Avenue, Troy, then to St. Augustine's Church in Lansingburgh, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, 4 to 7 p.m.