Joseph A. Tringali

Retired Army Col. Joseph A. Tringali, 85, Rotonda West, died Dec. 23, 2005. He was born Jan. 19, 1920, in Boston. He graduated with a degree in history from Park College in Missouri in 1963, and pursued a second field in business administration. He was an officer in the Army for 34 years, serving from World War II through the Vietnam War. He graduated from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Army Artillery and Guided Missile School, and did graduate work in the field of education at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He also was a graduate of the University of Florida real estate course and the Bert Rogers Real Estate School. He enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard in 1937, entering active service in 1940. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army in 1941 and later that year was commissioned a 1st lieutenant. He served as a captain of artillery and armor units during World War II in the Pacific, North Africa and Europe. He later commanded a battalion of artillery in the Korean War. He served in West Germany as an armor artillery battalion commander and as chief of operations, Seventh U.S. Army. He returned to the United States to serve as an instructor and as a department chief at the Command and General Staff College. He was promoted to colonel in the Army in 1964. From 1965 to 1967, he commanded the air defense of a large metropolitan population and industrial center in the United States. During the Vietnam War, he served overseas as the commander of all U.S. and Korean air defense missile and artillery units. He was awarded 16 medals and service ribbons, including the Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star. His last assignment before retirement was as the chairman, Department of Military Science, Seton Hall University, N.J. Upon his retirement in 1972, he moved to Rotonda West, and was active in the community. He served on the Charlotte County Commission from 1976 to 1988, and was chairman for two years. He was a member of Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, chairman of the West Coast Inland Navigation District, and a member of the board of directors of the State Association of County Commissioners of Florida. He was president of the Rotonda West Property Owners Association, was on the board of directors of the West Charlotte County Civic Association and was a member of the Charlotte County Republican Club and the Charlotte County Republican Executive Committee. He was a member of American Legion Post 113, the Lemon Bay Chapter of Retired Officers Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Inge D.; a son, Joseph William; and two grandchildren. A funeral service was held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Englewood East. Burial was in Gulf Pines Memorial Park. Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood Chapel, is in charge. Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.