Collar. Max Giovannini, 90 – Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

Colonel Max Giovannini (USAF-Ret.) died May 10, 2022 at the age of 93 in San Antonio, Texas. His long life was characterized by an unwavering devotion to his family and his country. He embodied “the officer and the gentleman”.

He was born to Filippo and Irene Giovannini in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania.

A graduate of Geneva College, he earned a commission in the US Air Force and began a 29-year military career in the new USAF Security Service.

On his first tour of duty he met and married Mary Bethel Kincaid. They raised four children in six states and five overseas assignments, including USAFSS Headquarters, Kelly AFB, Wheelus AFB, Tripoli, Libya, European Security Region Headquarters, Frankfurt, Germany, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Wakkanai Air Station, Japan, Joint Defense Installation Command Karamürsel, Turkey, National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, Maryland, DOD Special Representative to Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, and of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado.

He continued his studies by obtaining an MBA at the Univ. of Oklahoma, and his distinguished service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.

Upon retirement, Max returned to San Antonio, where he transferred his leadership skills to civilian life. He served his fellow officers as Executive Director of Air Force Village I and on the FCU Security Service Board of Directors for 30 years, including as Chairman, making many valuable friends. Max and Mary had a vibrant life until Mary’s death separated them after 58 years of marriage. Two years later, Max finds new joy with Dolores “Dodie” Blum, whom he married in 2013. Their nine years together have been marked by great happiness.

Max is survived by his wife Dodie, his daughters Juliana McCollom (Patrick) (Luther, Oklahoma), Gloria Giovannini (Jay Mitchell) (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Regina Giovannini (Lamar McCorkle) (Houston Texas), daughter in- law Sebastiana Giovannini (Sacramento, CA), eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, cousin Paolo DePiante (Elisabetta) of Rome, Italy, and many other cousins, nieces and nephews in the United States and Italy.

He was predeceased by his parents, wife Mary, granddaughter Marietta and son Philip Giovannini, PhD.

Mass will be celebrated on June 21, 2022 at 9 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church in Castroville, followed by 11:30 a.m. engagement with military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Friends are invited to greet the family at 3:00 p.m. at Blue Skies of West Texas. Memorials may be made to the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation.