Obituary of Nello P. Bongiovanni, Jr.

On Wednesday, June 28^th, Heaven welcomed another angel.

Nello Paul Bongiovanni, Jr., 44, passed away from complications due to a lifelong fight against Crohn’s disease. He took his last breath surrounded by his loving family before resting in eternal peace, a peace he so deeply deserved. Nello will be greeted by his father Nello Bongiovanni, Sr. to help guide him toward the Lord’s Kingdom, where they will spend eternity together at last.

He is survived by his loving mother Sandra Toce, his beloved sister Penny Parent, his brother and sister-in-law Earl Jr. and Kelly Parent, and his nephew and nieces Logan, Emma, and Olivia, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. This phenomenal team of individuals were essential to his joy, peace, comfort, and happiness and fought with him every step of the way. His loving memories will continue to live on through them and so many others.

Nello was born on March 27^th, 1979, in Manchester, CT, to his mother Sandra Toce and his father Nello Paul Bongiovanni, Sr. He was employed by IATSE Local 84 and 53 as a stagehand for many years. As a stagehand, he worked in the lighting, rigging, carpentry, and audio departments. His occupation afforded him the opportunity to use his many technical talents, while working live concerts, Broadway shows, and sporting events. Nello was a true technological genius, a real “MacGyver”. He was a master at building and repairing motorbikes and cars. He could literally build, repair, and figure out just about everything.

To know Nello was to love him. He was a very strong-minded, witty, and outgoing person with a heart of gold who loved to play jokes on all. Nello loved to travel, made his way around the entire country and always came back to share the many great stories from those trips. The best ones were the “long tales” of the fish that got away. Nello loved to fish and knew all the great fishing spots from the west coast to the east.

While living in Spokane, Washington, he honed his artistic talents and learned the art of glass blowing, creating hundreds of sought-after pieces. He became a master cultivator of cannabis, inventing new methods, equipment, and the process, where again, he combined his love of art and glass blowing taking his artistic talents to new levels. His other passions included drawing, graffiti, research, music and in his down time, loved his video games. To say that Nello was a “lifelong learner” would be an understatement.

Nello was truly loved for being exactly who he was and will be missed by all; however, this is not goodbye. He is watching over all of us, keeping us safe and blessed. Rest peacefully in eternal happiness our angel, where the fish are ubiquitous and won’t get away.

Until we meet again, you will be forever in our hearts.

Family and friends are invited to Crossroads Community Cathedral, 1492 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT, on Tuesday, July 11^th, 2023, from 5 – 7 p.m. for a celebration of Nello’s life. For online condolences, please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.