“Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.” ― Arthur Schopenhauer
For a friend
Gone From My Sight by Henry Van Dyke
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship, at my side, spreads white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
He is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch him until, at length, he hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, he is gone"
Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all.
He is just as large in mast, hull and spar as he was when he left my side.
And, he is just as able to bear his load of living freight to his destined port.
His diminished size is in me -- not in him.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, he is gone," there are other eyes watching him coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here he comes!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mario Anthony Giovanni, Jr., age 65, died peacefully at his home in Buford, GA on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Born March 26, 1949, in Phillipsburg, NJ, he attended Pius X Catholic High School in Roseto, PA before moving to the Milwaukee, WI area with his parents and siblings.
It was in Milwaukee where he married on September 28, 1974, Suzanne Steber, raising two children, Anne Grazier of Lindenhurst, IL and Nick Giovanni of Buford, GA. In 1996, he moved his family to the Buford, GA area working for the past seven years at Engineered Architectural Systems, Inc. of Alpharetta, GA. Previously he worked several years for Albany International.
Mario was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for two years, was active in coaching his son’s hockey team in the Lawrenceville, GA area and enjoyed both golf and college basketball. He had a passion for music which included his time with the Drum and Bugle Corp in high school and playing drum most recently with a local band. He had a serving heart, positive nature and adored spending time with his granddaughter, Audrey.
Mario was preceded in death by his parents, Mario, Sr. and Mary (Pacovich) Giovanni; sister, Carla (Franzrab) Giovanni; and nephew, Jeb Jensen. Survivors include wife, Suzanne (Steber); daughter, Anne Grazier and granddaughter, Audrey; son, Nick Giovanni; sister, Lucia (Giovanni) and Roger McGrath of Eagle, WI; sister-in-law, Char (Steber) and Jeff Jensen of Reedsburg, WI.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mario Anthony Giovanni, Jr. will be held 6:30 P.M. on Friday, January 9, 2015 at Georgia Cremation Chapel 3116 U.S. Highway 23 (Buford HWY), Duluth, GA 30096. Relatives, friends and coworkers are welcome to attend and celebrate a life well lived.
Georgia Cremation (678)584-0914 is assisting the family with local arrangements. Messages of condolence may be made or viewed at www.GeorgiaCremation.com.
Stay inspired my friends!
