Andrea Bacigalupa Obituary

ANDREA (DREW) BACIGALUPA Longtime Santa Fe artist/writer Andrea (Drew) Bacigalupa died March 22, 2015, age 91. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, May 26, 1923. He is perhaps best-known in Santa Fe for his prize-winning bronze St Francis and the Prairie Dog which fronts City Hall, and for his weekly Sunday column Coffeebreak Journal, The Santa Fe New Mexican in the 1970's. In 2008, Mr. Bacigalupa was named a Santa Fe Living Treasure. A veteran of World War II, Bacigalupa served as sergeant with the 357th Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battalion in England, France, Belgium and Germany in the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. After the war, he studied art and writing at Biarritz American University, Maryland Institute of Fine Arts, the Art Students League, Alfred University, Hatch End Catholic Radio and TV Centre in England, and L'Accademia di Belli Art in Italy. Mr. Bacigalupa married Ellen Williams in New York City in 1952 and the couple moved to Santa Fe in 1954. Two years later, the couple purchased and renovated an old adobe to found The Studio of Gian Andrea on Canyon Road, where he worked as a writer, ceramicist, painter, and sculptor. He also worked as an illustrator for the New Mexico State Engineer's Office for 25 years. Mr. Bacigalupa is survived by his wife Ellen Williams Bacigalupa; his sister Louise Zablocki; five children Gian Bacigalupa, Pier (Mongel) Bacigalupa, Ruan (Camille) Bacigalupa, Chiara (Shelly) Bacigalupa, and Ria (Stephen) Bacigalupa; six grandchildren Angelina (Omar) Villase¤or, Gianna Albaum, Angela Bacigalupa, Antonia Bacigalupa Albaum, Melissa Bacigalupa, and Makenna Beall; and one great-grandchild, Marcello Villase¤or. Memorial service will take place on Monday, March 30 at 2:00 pm at St. Bede's Episcopal Church, 1601 South Saint Francis Dr. Santa Fe, NM 87505. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico, http://www.honorflightnorthernnm.org or 100 Sun Ave. NE, Suite 650, Albuquerque, NM, 87109. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600 Please sign our guestbook for the family at: www.berardinellifuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Fe New Mexican from Mar. 26 to Mar. 27, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Andrea Bacigalupa

Sponsored by anonymous.

10 Entries

Barbara Caton

January 17, 2019

Am very late w/ condolances. We met Andrea at the NM Arts & Crafts Fair, many years ago, in Albuq. We have 3 pieces by him; all very different. Tried to visit in 2011; didn't know Andrea was gone. Am choosing which child gets Andrea's artwork. Best wishes to the family. Barbara Caton (who moved from Farmington, NM to NC in 2012.)

Frances Della Vecchia

July 29, 2018

My condolences to the Bacigalupa family of New Mexico. I am a Baltimore cousin , who knew his deceased sister Marie well. His mother Irene was exceptionally proud of him. Even though I never met Andrea, I had become aware of some of his work on our shared ancestry. I grew up in Baltimore's Little Italy and was close to his Azzaro cousins , ( aunt Crescentia Bacigalupa Azzaro and cousins Carmella and Anthony ). Interestingly , Crescentia's mother was Louise Cuneo Bacigalupa. His mother, and sisters Marie and Louise spoke lovingly of him. May all of you be comforted in your loss. It seems that he has given much to many.
May you always enjoy the spiritual graces of being joined with his beautiful spirit.

December 24, 2015

Dear family of Andrea Bacigalupa.

We are so sorry to hear that Andrea has passed on. We were so privileged to meet him in Sorrento Italy 2000, and never forgot him. Please accept our sympathy.

Love and best wishes from Peter and Tina Bell. Ps. he made our first visit to Italy so very special. xx

May 19, 2015

My sky is gray today because I just learned of Andrea's passing. It has been almost 25 years since my sister and I happened into the Studio of Gian Andrea while visiting Santa Fe from El Paso. Not only were we taken with Andrea's artwork and books, we were immediately taken with Andrea: His demeanor, his sincere smile, his stories, the turn of a phrase, the twinkle in his eye. In the ensuing years we kept in touch by cards, phone calls, e-mail, and visits when I could make it back to Santa Fe. Those were too few, but he always welcomed me with the biggest hug, like he had known me all my life, and I felt like I was seeing a favorite uncle again. It was on my last visit a few years ago that I was so happy to finally meet dear Ellen as well. I will deeply miss Andrea. The world has truly lost a great treasure. My heart goes out to Ellen and the Bacigalupa family.

Sarah John
El Paso

Lawrence Ortiz

April 1, 2015

Gian, Ruan, Camille, & Family,
I'm extremely sorry to hear of your recent loss. My thoughts & prayers are with you.

March 30, 2015

Gian,
My condolences to you and your family
Michael Vialpando
Phoenix

March 29, 2015

Gian and family. I am sorry about your dad. My prayers are with you.
Liz Sena

Tom Padilla

March 29, 2015

Gian, my condolences to you and your family.

Roberta Armijo

March 27, 2015

Mrs. Bacigalupa, Chiara, and family, Mr. Bacigalupa was a very kind man. He had a very special style in his art that set himself apart from others. I've always admired his work. Every time I saw him he had a ready smile, was soft spoken and very kind. I enjoyed the short conversations we shared.
Know all the "firsts" are the most emotionally challenging, birthdays, holidays, etc... My prayers are with your family.
When ever you find yourself missing your father, put your hand on your heart. Feel the blood rushing through your veins. Feel your heart beat. You share his blood. He lives in your heart now. Stay still and speak to him and listen closely. You can feel his response. My heartfelt condolences.

Kevin Boyle

March 26, 2015

I never met Andrea but I considered him a friend.It started about 7 years ago when I was researching the 357th seachlighters, the outfit my father served in during WW2. I happened across Drew's Flicker account and eventually was able to contact him via e-mail. This led to many pleasant exchanges and when my late father was in rehab a CD came in the mail loaded with all of the pictures Drew had collected as company clerk of the 357th. I cannot begin to say how great it was to sit and look at pictures of my dad and the other heroes of his generation.He may have been a "living treasure" in Santa Fe for his artistic accomplishments but in Philly, he was a living treasure for his heart. I will miss the exchanges we had, He was a great guy !
Kevin Boyle

Showing 1 - 10 of 10 results