Richard Vincent Giorgi

Richard Vincent Giorgi, 79 of Mt. Iron died of complications from liver cancer on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, in the hospice unit at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. He was born May 15, 1926, the son of John and Anna (Jedda) Giorgi of Mt. Iron. A long-time resident of Mt. Iron, Richard graduated from Mt. Iron High School in 1944 and later married his high-school sweetheart, Ann Majetich. He graduated from Virginia Junior College and Duluth Business University. Early in his professional life he worked in furniture sales for Ketola's in Virginia. He moved on to become the office manager at Malton Electric, a major Northern Minnesota electrical contracting company. Later he was the office manager for Northern Electric Cooperative Association (now Lake Country Power), where he retired in 1992. Richard's reputation as a fair, kind and ethical person and business manager was widely acknowledged and appreciated by colleagues and customers alike. In addition to being a loving husband, father and grandfather, Richard was a committed volunteer. He was a member and frequent lector at Sacred Heart Church in Mt. Iron. He served on the Mt. Iron School Board for 15 years. During retirement he devoted time and energy to an array of volunteer activities, including providing tax preparation services for Iron Range senior citizens under the auspices of the American Association of Retired Persons. He was a frequent, helpful presence at St. Michael's Health and Rehabilitation in Virginia, where he shared conversation and social hour activities with family members and friends. He delivered Meals on Wheels and groceries, and made phone calls to the homebound elderly, as part of the Elder Services Network and RSVP programs. And he was a devoted caregiver and companion to his wife, Ann, and sister, Esther, during their later years. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ann; sister, Esther (Giorgi) Jurkovich and brother John Giorgi. Richard is survived by his children, Richard M. 'Rico' and Anita (Joe Ahlin) Skenzich all of Virginia, Barbara (David) Oberstar of Duluth, Vincent (Marcia Appel) of Lakeville, Minn., Charles (Diane) of Forest Lake, Minn., Jonathan (Leslie) of Lakeville, Minn.; grandchildren, Robert Skenzich, Anthony Giorgi, Elizabeth Giorgi, Molly Oberstar, Adam Giorgi, Gina Giorgi, Maria Giorgi, Sarah Giorgi and Aaron Giorgi; brother, James Giorgi; plus numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. VISITATION:4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 until the 5:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia. Reverend Father John O'Donnell will celebrate the Mass. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Virginia. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to the Duluth Clinic Foundation for cancer research. Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home. To share a personal remembrance of Richard online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com .