Aldo R. Cristofolini
READSBORO- Aldo Richard Cristofolini, 85, a longtime resident of Readsboro, died on Tuesday, February 26.
Mr. Cristofolini was born January 9, 1934, in the small mountain village Vigo Cavedine, located in the Trentino Province in northern Italy.
Life was difficult in northern Italy. Having suffered through two World Wars, his mother demanded that her husband take the three youngest children to the United States of America so they could make something of their lives. So, in 1951, when Aldo was 17, he accompanied his father to the United States and joined other Italians in Readsboro. In the following years, he would be joined by his younger brother Mario and their younger sister Vittorina.
Mr. Cristofolini worked various jobs when he first came to Vermont. Among them were at the Readsboro Chair Factory, clearing brush and trees to make way for power lines, and others here and there, finally landing a job at the glassine paper mill in Monroe, MA, where he worked for more than 30 years, until its closing in the mid-1980s. After a two-year stint cleaning Zayre’s working nights, he got a job at G.S. Precision in Wilmington, and then later at their plant in Brattleboro, which he was able to retire from at age 59. He spent the next quarter of a century enjoying time with his many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, golfing with the friends he made when he first came to the United States, tending his vegetable gardens year after year, and, most importantly, spending time with his wife of 63 years.
Among his other interests and hobbies, he enjoyed deer hunting, picking wild, edible mushrooms, bowling, the Boston Red Sox, watching old black and white westerns, and The Masters and PGA golf tournaments. He was a devout, lifelong Catholic, and studied to enter the priesthood in Italy before coming to the United States. He was a member of the Trentina Society of Readsboro for more than 60 years. He was slow to begin stories of his childhood, but once he started, it was obvious that even though life in Italy was difficult, he reminisced on those days fondly.
Mr. Cristofolini leaves behind his beloved wife Margie Ann, of Readsboro, (married on February 11, 1956); his sister, Vittorina (Vicky) Trudeau, of Pownal; three sons, Martin (Shelley Conlon) Cristofolini, of Stamford, Michael Cristofolini (Laini Sporbert), of North Adams, MA, and James (Elizabeth) Cristofolini, of Auburn, IN; grandchildren Ashley (Brandon) Gilvey, Lynsey Cristofolini, Katelyn (Ben) Raimer, Kelley (Jason) Wood, James (Angel Chaney) Cristofolini II, Elena (Stephen) Andorfer, Danielle Cristofolini, David Cristofolini, Rachael Cristofolini, and Emily Cristofolini; and great-grandchildren Hadleigh, Michael, and Carson. He was preceded in death by his brothers Francesco, Enrico, Tullio, Lino, Bruno, and Mario.
A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Mr. Cristofolini will be celebrated Tuesday, March 5, at 11 am, at St. Joachim’s Church in Readsboro, followed by a reception at the church hall. Burial will be in the spring in Village Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joachim’s Church or the Readsboro Volunteer Fire Department in care of Flynn and Dagnoli-Montagna Home For Funerals Central Chapel, 74 Marshall Street, North Adams, MA 01247. To add to the Book of Memories visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.
