Leonard P. Digangi

Leonard (Leo) Patrick DiGangi was born on October 21, 1926 in West Rutland, Vermont, son of Maria (Sabatino) and Santo DiGangi of West Rutland, Vermont.  Leo died peacefully at the home of his daughter on September 6, 2020.  He was 93 years old.

Leo attended West Rutland Public Schools and during World War II, interrupted his high school education to enlist in the United States Navy, serving his country aboard the USS William P. Biddle, an attack transport vessel, in the Pacific Theatre of War.

After the war, he finished his high school education, graduating from West Rutland High School with the Class of 1947.  After high school, he graduated from the Louis Hotel Training School in Washington, DC and then returned to Rutland, VT, where he joined the Metropolitan Life Insurance sales force for 18 years, advancing to Sales Manager in the Rutland office.   He then joined the Prudential Insurance Company, where he remained until his retirement in 1989.

In his earlier years, Leo was active in West Rutland town affairs serving on the West Rutland Prudential Committee, the West Rutland Volunteer Fire Department, town lister, the town Planning Committee, as well as the West Rutland School Board.  He also served for two years on the state of Vermont’s land use and development Act 250 Commission within the Rutland District.

He enjoyed skiing in the winter and golf in the summer.  He was more than a 30-year member of the Otter Ski Patrol at Pico Mountain, as well as the Proctor-Pittsford Country Club.  He was also a long-time member of the American Legion Post #87, the B.P.O.E. #345, the Italian Aid Society, the Italian-American Club and a life long communicant of St. Bridget’s Church in West Rutland, VT.

Leo was predeceased by his sisters Josephine Sabatino and France Nash of West Rutland, VT, Lillian Rocchi of Proctor, VT, Mary Morgan of Rutland, VT, and brother Joseph DiGangi of Bennington, VT.  He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Gladys DiGangi of West Rutland, VT, his daughter, Mary Ann Fallon and husband Frank Fallon of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, his son Mark L. DiGangi and wife Tanja DiGangi of Essex, VT  and grandchildren, Emilie Fallon and Samuel Fallon of Chapel Hill, NC, Stefan DiGangi and Niko DiGangi of Essex, VT,  Hunter DiGangi of South Burlington, VT and Keely Colburn of Essex, VT.   He will be missed dearly.

A funeral mass in his memory will be held at St. Bridget’s Church in West Rutland, VT on Saturday September 19, 2020 at 1 pm. Burial will follow in St. Bridget’s Cemetery.

Masks will be required.   In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to a charity of choice.

Arrangements are by the Clifford Funeral Home.