Pietro Agostino Obituary (1933 – 2022) – South Bend, IN

Pietro “Peter” Agostino of South Bend handed absent on Could 23, 2022, surrounded by his family he was 88.

Pietro was born June 29, 1933, in Gerace, Reggio di Calabria, Kingdom of Italia, the son of Giovanni Giuseppe Agostino and Paola Aversa. As a U.S. citizen, Pietro moved to the United States in 1949 where by he joined his more mature brother Francesco and his Aunt Filomena and Uncle Carmelo Scoleri. He attended Central Large College in South Bend wherever he participated in a wide variety of functions together with wrestling and drama club and worked a variety of element-time work. He would get a kick of telling many others he was a soda “jerk” at Clark’s Restaurant. He graduated in 1952 and then attended the College of Notre Dame. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and despatched to Germany where by he served in military services intelligence assigned to the OSS. He acquired the National Defense Services Medal. On his return, he finished his diploma in accounting from the South Bend Higher education of Commerce and obtained his skilled license. When heading to college, Pietro worked a variety of portion-time positions like in the Studebaker brake division the place he grew to become store steward and also labored for the Portage Township Assessor. Pietro began his accounting career doing the job for then Cost Flatley Accounting, and afterwards began a partnership with Al Joachim. Pietro finally began his have accounting exercise which he continued until finally retiring in 1996. In 1982, Pietro and his household acquired the Whistle End Restaurant in South Bend which his wife and sons ran till they sold the restaurant when his sons finished graduate college. He was a very long-time member of the Indiana Society of Community Accountants and National Association of Tax Consultants. In the course of the 1950s and 1960s, Pietro hosted the Italian hour on WSJV radio just about every Sunday. He also participated in various productions of the South Bend Civic Theatre. He aided uncovered and regulate the previous Columbus Club on Franklin Street in South Bend. Pietro served as a extended- time Democratic Precinct Commiteeman and labored on several political campaigns, normally with his superior good friend Excellent Baldoni.

In 1959, Pietro visited Italy and at his mom’s recommendation he married the woman up coming door, his really like, Teresa Romano. Alongside one another they raised 4 sons. Pietro loved assisting other individuals in particular fellow Italians. He started doing the job with the Italian govt in 1957. This resulted in his turning into the Italian Consular Agent for the Condition of Indiana in 1979, whereby he assisted Italian immigrants with issues working with the Italian government, travel to or lawful troubles in Italy as nicely as aiding several businesses and universities with matters in Italy. He was instrumental in helping a lot of regional immigrants to arrive to this location and then obtain their residency or citizenship. They often affectionately referred to him as “Don Pietro.” With the assistance of his pal, Congressman John Brademas, he had various expenses passed in Congress to make some corrections in the immigration guidelines which produced it unnecessarily tough for specific family members such as individuals with handicapped small children. He belonged to lots of clubs and companies which includes the Sons of Italy, Countrywide Italian American Foundation, Calabrese in The us, Italian American Heritage Culture of Notre Dame/Michiana (Cofounder, Board Member and receiver of the Columbus Award), American Legion Article 50 (earlier vice commander and longtime auditor). He was instrumental in the restoration of the Chapel in the Woods at Camp Atterbury designed by Italian POWs being held in Indiana throughout Environment War II. He was also energetic in the Indiana Statewide Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of the New Earth. In 1993, Pietro obtained the states’ optimum honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash from then Gov. Evan Bayh. In 2017, he and his family obtained a unique commendation from the Property of Reps of Massachusetts.

No matter irrespective of whether in business enterprise or everyday living, he often appreciated a excellent obstacle. Apart from assisting others, Pietro cherished shelling out time with relatives and friends, frequently at household Sunday dinners. He relished generating wine and participating in Italian cards, a custom he handed on to his sons and grandchildren. In the 1970’s, he and his brother began a tradition of a substantial Fourth of July picnic which grew into a gathering of 300 people today which transitioned into the Ferragosto picnic for the IAHS. By way of all his endeavors, Pietro created numerous mates throughout the United States and the environment and would generally check out to stop by a lot of of them. Pietro and Teresa traveled through the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They also visited a quantity of countries together with Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, Switzerland, New Zealand and of course a lot of outings to Italy. They generally wintered in Delray Beach front, Florida, where by they collected with childhood close friends and family members. He was a longtime parishioner of Holy Cross Church in South Bend where he served as an usher for lots of a long time.

Pietro was preceded in death by his dad and mom, Giovanni and Paola, his sister Maria, brother Francesco and sister-in-regulation Beatrice and brothers-in-law Francesco Lacopo, Antonio Monteleone and Antonio “Gibbi” Aversa. Pietro is survived by his spouse, Teresa sons Peter John (Kathy) Agostino, Joseph Frank Agostino, Michael Anthony (Jeanne) Agostino and Frank James (Rosa) Agostino grandchildren, Peter George Agostino, Gabriella Agostino, Jennifer (Andrew) Besemer, Christopher Agostino, John Agostino, Anthony Agostino, Julia Agostino, Peter James Agostino, Maria Agostino, Nicodemo Agostino, Michelangelo Agostino and Teresa Agostino and fantastic-grandchildren Oliver Agostino, Leif Agostino, Penelope Besemer and Nicholas Besemer and sister Caterina Lacopo, brother-in-regulation Pasquale (Mary) Romano, sisters-in-regulation Carmela Monteleone and Francesca Aversa and quite a few nieces and nephews and their households.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1050 N. Wilber St., South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday, Could 28, at 10 a.m. with entombment to follow in Highland Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana. Visitation will be on Friday, May possibly 27, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Dwelling, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN 46628. A Rosary will be explained at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations could be produced to the Italian American Heritage Society of Notre Dame/Michiana or to Holy Cross Parish. The family members would specifically like to thank Pietro’s caregivers from Hospice of Michiana and Lisa from House As an alternative.