Obituary of Geraldine A. Del Bagno

Geraldine A. Del Bagno was born on December 20, 1951, the first of two children born to Helen (Krippa) and Gerald Del Bagno in Staten Island, New York, a place she loved dearly throughout the full, beautiful life she made for herself on the island. 

Endlessly social, charming, funny and charismatic, people were drawn to Geraldine (“Geri”) from an early age, when at Countess Moore High School (of which she was a proud graduate of the Class of 1969, when it was still “all-girls” as she’d often boast) she was part of “The Six” a group of young women who laughed and pranked and fairly skipped their way through high school, Laverne and Shirley-style. The friends Geraldine made at this young age were her friends for life, and were more than that: she became family, because once you met Geraldine, you knew you needed to know her forever. “We were just always together,” her high school friend Jeannie recalls. “That’s what I remember the most.” 

This ability to create unshakable bonds reached its true zenith however when Geri, on a hot summer day in 1984, became a mother to the apple of her eye and the subject of all of her boasting for decades to come, her dear daughter Julia Marie. (Geri often proudly recounted how her beloved high school friend Valerie served as Lamaze coach on that day, and Valerie reveled in being the “god-a-mother” who held the baby first. Geri, with her usual aplomb, was fine with this: “I was tired!”) From that day forward, the Earth received a new axis around which to turn in Geri’s eyes, and that was Julia. One could not speak to Geri without hearing almost Julia’s complete resume, from the college she attended to her current work in higher education, of which Geri was so proud one could not help but marvel at her daughter’s perfection along with her. Geri was a huge fan of music, with a particular love of Barry Manilow she shared with her dear friend Valerie, but her absolute favorite song, Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best,” was reserved for her daughter. Their bond was, is, and forever will be: the best. 

Not that Geri didn’t have other loves as well: lest we forget her furry friends! Over the years Geri rescued so many: Tippy, Zuzu, Rabb and Jasmine were the pups, with Pywacket the cat making waves in her heart as well as “Bam-Bam” the most loved almost-rescue New York City has ever experienced. (Who but Geri could or would write into the Advance for a picture of a rescue she never even got to adopt?) And of course there was her granddog Moose, as well, whom Geri even occasionally deigned to ditch her trademark high heels in order to walk for Julia. 

Fiercely independent and smart, she worked for years in administration at Manhattan law firms like Hill Rivkins (where she again was the soul and laughter of not just the office, but even the ferry commute) and then spent decades as an aide at Staten Island Borough Hall, where her impeccable personal style and ability to be both candid and diplomatic at all times, made her an asset no one could do without. 

She was Aunt Miss Piggy to her beloved niece Alexis, who gave her the Muppet moniker as a child because she was just so glam. And fierce! No one could do Miss Piggy-style pretty, street-smart and sweet like Geraldine. 

Other loves of Geraldines include her magnificent “Wicked” Stepmother, Margaret, all of her numerous friends, Julia’s friends (whom she adored and was family to), Cape May, New Jersey, and of course, her good luck elephants. We’ll see her again, because we have to. Once you know Geri, you have to know her forever. 

Geraldine A. Del Bagno is predeceased by her father, Gerald Del Bagno, her mother Helen, and her faithful friend Lou Martinez. She is survived by her daughter, Julia Marie, her brother Jeffrey (Jennifer) and nephew Jeffrey Samuel.

Funeral from the Matthew Funeral Home, Inc., 2508 Victory Boulevard, on Friday, departing at 10:00 AM.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter’s R.C. Church at 11:00 AM.  Private cremation to follow.  Family and friends may visit on Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 9:00 PM.