Nicholas A. Giovanelli

"I make people happy!" That's what my dad, Nick Giovanelli, would say when people asked what he did for a living. And boy did he! For 70 years, retiring at the age of 90, he repaired over 120,000 instruments. Who works like that anymore?! He got his start in instrument repair after his service in the Army. Thanks to the G.I.Bill my dad trained in his craft at the Eastern School of Musical Instrument Repair in NJ. His speciality was woodwind and brass. During his career he worked for Sharmin's, Chiarelli Brothers and after many years at Zeswitz Music he quit at the age of 70. Yes I said quit, not retired. He didn't want a gold watch or a retirement dinner. He continued to work from his shop at home for an additional 20 years. My mom was a bit ticked off about this! She imagined their retirement years full of cruises, traveling to Florida and other warm places. I can still see her tapping her foot and rolling her eyes in the other room of their home when a customer would show up, unannounced, with an emergency repair for a gig that night right before they were going out somewhere. My dad never turned anyone away. He would make her happy by sharing half of what he got paid for it. Perhaps you read the obituary of my mom Dottie a few years back and her antics. She spoke her mind, was loud and brash and very funny. My dad was humble and quiet and her opposite but together they were kind and caring and each other's best friend.

He was a hands-on dad watching me in the evenings when my mom worked at night, changing diapers and making formula. He taught me how to change a tire, use flux for plumbing and a lot of other things that boys are usually taught. When I was a teenager driving he always gave me five dimes to keep in my car in case I needed to use a pay phone or was low on gas.

He took pride in his work and treated each customer's instrument, no matter how inexpensive or pricey, in the same careful and loving way. He felt that music was a universal language that brought people together. His purpose in life was to continue the flow of the music by fixing what was interrupting it.

He is survived by me, his daughter, Dee Bernardo, his son in law and buddy Fred Bernardo, who introduced him to the "Famous Bowl" at KFC. They would go through the drive in, get their order and eat it in Fred's van or at "The Loud Cave." After pasta, that was my dad's favorite meal. Other survivors include step grandchildren Justin Bernardo and wife Heidi and Cori Bernardo and husband Nick. He was Pop Pop to great grandchildren Benny and Aiden. He is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. And let's not forget our dog Tootsie who would bug him twice a day for cookies. He was predeceased by the love of his life Dottie, his parents Bambino and Carmella and his seven siblings: Gino, Millie, Marguerite, Mary, Helen, Elba and Joe.

Many heartfelt thanks to the caring staff at The Heritage of Green Hills, his Visiting Angel, Sandy, our loving family and his many, many customers who brought him joy by allowing my dad to work on their loved instruments.

If you would like to honor my dad, enjoy a glass of Chianti (cheap) with a bowl of pasta, dust off your old sax, start playing an instrument or turn up the volume on some Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald or any Swing/Big Band Music. You can also donate to the Reading Musical Foundation to help others in their music outreach.

A visitation will be held Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel of St. George at Gethsemane Cemetery with entombment to follow. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.