It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Detachment Life Member Edward Valente Giampoli who died peacefully on September 22, 2024 in Cary, NC. He was born to Edward Giampoli and Charlotte Dwinell in the Bronx, NY on July 1, 1928 and attended the local grammar schools (PS #96 and #89) and Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx. He was a team captain on the school’s rifle team.
He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve upon graduation from High School during WWII. He went to Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC. He was then stationed at USMC Air Station, Cherry Point, NC and honorably discharged in 1947. In 1950, he was recalled back for the Korean Conflict. In 1951, he won the Camp LeJeune Rifle Composition with the score of 224 out of 250. He served with Fleet Marine Force, 2nd Marine Division, 6th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion, “I” Company. He embarked on U.S.S. Botetourt (APA 136), U.S.S. Mellette (APA 156), U.S.S. Fremont (APA 44) and U.S.S. Bottineau (APA 235) to participate in Amphibian Exercises. After honorable discharge at separation date in 1952, he attended Sampson College and Columbia University. He was honorably discharged from the Reserve in 1959. He was awarded Navy & Marine Corps Commendation, American Campaign, WWII Victory, Navy Occupation, National Defense Service and Marine Corps Reserve service medals.
He participated in amateur bicycle racing from 1948 to 1955 with his father. They rode in many major, club-sponsored, annual and championship races in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Their fans remembered them as “The Flying Giampolis”. He won many races at the Flushing Meadow Park Oval Track in Queens, NY. He won the Eastern and Tri-State Roller Racing Championship in 1953. He rode in 6-Day bicycle races in El Paso, Texas, Delhi, Ontario, Canada and a long-distance road race from Quebec to Trois Rivieres, Canada.
He worked as a construction project superintendent for general contractors, John Lowry, Inc., LaFata Construction Company, Regal Construction Company and others. He oversaw many new buildings and renovations in New York City, Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey such as WNEW-TV station in NYC, Metromedia TV station in NYC, Roosevelt Hospital in NYC, JFK Airport Terminal in NYC, Techincon in Tarrytown, NY, ADP in Commack, NY, Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, NJ, several churches, schools, water treatment plants and banks. He also supervised the project at Mrs. Marjorie Merriweather Post’s home in Washington, DC during the 1950’s. He remained in the construction field until retirement in 1996 from LiRo Consulting Engineers as a consulting engineer where he oversaw many projects.
He married the love of his life, Joan at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on January 30, 1960. He was a proud father of their two children, son Steven and daughter Ellen.
Flying became his life-time passion. He took flying lessons at WESTAIR Flying School in Westchester County Airport in New York. After receiving his pilot license, he was employed by the school to provide ground and flight instruction and fly charter flights for business executives and Montgomery Clift, movie actor. Over the years later, he obtained his Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Airline Transport Pilot licenses with the ratings of Airplane Single Engine Land, Airplane Multi Engine Land, Private Glider, Instrument, Ground Instruction & Instructor, Flight Instructor, Flight Instructor Instrument, Multi Engine Instructor. He piloted in 98 different types or makes of aircraft. He had a total of 6317 flying hours. He bought his first airplane in 1956 — a twin engine, Cessna Bobcat T-50 (UC78) “Bamboo Bomber”.
In 1987, he traded up to a twin engine Piper Aztec. Over the next 11 years, he flew his family to various places like Houlton, ME, Lansing, IL, Cleveland, OH, Nashville TN, Rutland, VT and Buffalo, NY for family trips and gatherings. A visit to Fantasy Flying School in Albuquerque, New Mexico to fly a Russian MIG-15 and French Fouga jet fighter plane across the New Mexican high desert was a favorite experience.
In 1958, he joined the Civil Air Patrol in the Bronx, NY. He served over 52 years. His rank went from Airman 1st Class to Lieutenant Colonel. His duties over the time span included Flight Safety Officer, Mission Pilot, Safety Staff Officer, Operations Officer, Executive Officer, Group Commander, Executive Committee Member, Group Flight Proficiency Board Member, Group Finance Committee Member, Grievance Board Member, Special Staff Assistant(Advisor) to Group Commander, Standards and Evaluation Officer, Chief Check Pilot, Project Officer, Mission Check Pilot, Promotion Board Chairman and Cadet & ROTC Orientation Pilot. While he was the Bronx Group Commander (1971 – 1985), one of his squadrons won the National Cadet Drill Team Competition at Maxwell AFB in 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1985. He became the New York Southeast Group Commander at Westchester County Airport (2002 – 2006). For a number of years he received plaques for being “Check Pilot of the Year”. He was awarded the Expectational Service Award, Meritorious Service Award (2 times), Commander’s Commendation Award (2 times), Unit Citation (3 times), Leadership Award (3 times), Membership Award, Brigadier General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager Award, Command Service (2 times), Red Service (50 years of service), Air Search and Rescue (4 times), Disaster Relief (with “V” device), Cadet Orientation Pilot, International Air Cadet Exchange, National Cadet Competition, and Senior Member Recruitment (2 times) service medals.
He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen, serving as a Keyman of White Plains Hangar; the Air Force Association and served as President of the Westchester County charter for a few years. He was also a member of Marine Corps League, Westchester County, NY Detachment.
In 2011, Ed and his family moved from White Plains, New York to Apex, North Carolina.
He enjoyed playing bridge with his friends, family and neighbors. A loyal fan of almost 10 years of Holly Spring Salamanders baseball team, he was given the honor to throw the “First Pitch” in the Fourth of July game in 2021. He was also a fan of New York Giants (baseball during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s), New York Giants (football), New York Mets, New York Rangers, New York Knicks, Notre Dame (football and basketball) and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.
He is survived by his wife Joan, his son Steven (Apex, NC), daughter Dr. Ellen and son-in-law Dr. Craig Narins (Rochester, NY), Ed leaves three sisters, June Henwood (late Calvin) of Maitland, FL, Etdie Calabro (late Charles) of Boynton Beach, FL, and Valerie Rosso (late Philip) of Tuckerton, NJ and sixteen nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Edward may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
To view the original obituary, please visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/apex-nc/edward-giampoli-12000640
