Bernardo Renado Giovannone

Bernardo (Ben) Giovannone, 90, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 11th leaving behind a legacy of compassion and quiet strength. Ben was born in Michigan, the son of Vincenzo and Maria Louisa Giovannone, who had both immigrated to the United States As the child of immigrants. Ben and his sister Sylvia were taught the values of family, community, faith, and service to others. Ben was a good student. He has fond memories of Fordson High School where he was a linebacker on the varsity football team. Ben received a full scholarship to college from Ford Motor Company and chose Purdue University to study engineering. Though successful in his first year at Purdue, he felt called by God to the priesthood which would enable him to serve others best so Ben applied to the Detroit Diocesan seminary. He was rejected because he had not studied Latin in high school. He then applied to the seminary at Notre Dame and was rejected for the same reason. Divine intervention occurred when his beloved sister Sylvia told her boss about Ben’s desire to become a priest. The boss, in turn, relayed the message to his friend, Fr. Ted Hesburgh. Within a week Ben received a personal acceptance letter signed by Fr. Hesburgh and began studies at Holy Cross Seminary, Notre Dame in his sophomore year. He graduated from Notre Dame and remained a fervent supporter of the Fighting Irish throughout his life. Ben obtained a Master of Divinity and was ordained. As a priest Ben had a variety of assignments that took him across the country, including teaching Spanish and math at Holy Cross High School in Illinois to traveling the west coast as vocation recruitment director at the University of Portland. Meanwhile, Ben obtained a Master of Counseling Psychology. He made the decision to leave the priesthood during the incredibly tumultuous period in the Church following the 2nd Vatican Council and relocated back to the Chicago area where he began working in computer systems. His steadfast faith never wavered, and he led a home-based Mass group near Loyola in Chicago in the late sixties. In 1969 he heard of a similar group of Northwestern affiliates. He made a call to the woman who convened that group to share ideas about liturgy. That person was Rosemary and it wasn’t long before the friendship, rooted in God, became a marriage. Vincent was born in 1973, and Katherine followed in 1974. Ben’s family was his greatest joy, and he delighted in being a husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather.

Ben and Rosemary, a licensed psychologist, led groups in marriage and family therapy. They opened a private practice in response to requests from workshop participants. After many years their retirement brought them as snowbirds to Estero, Florida and then full-time. In 2013 they moved to Shell Point and have truly enjoyed the community, friendships, activities and support they have found.

Ben was a gentle and loving soul, who always had a smile to share with a friend or a stranger. He had a deep well of patience, and a desire to help lift others. He could often be found serving meals at the soup kitchen, volunteering at the homeless shelter, tutoring immigrants in English at the local library, or swinging a hammer with Habitat for Humanity. He was deeply humble. Ben practiced his faith every day in the way he treated and cared for others, and he was truly cherished by all who knew him, especially his family.

Ben will be profoundly missed by his loving and devoted wife of nearly 55 years, Rosemary Giovannone; son Vincent Giovannone (Angela); daughter Katherine Tucker (Kevin); and grandchildren Caroline Tucker, William Tucker, and Leela Giovannone who all provided him endless delight and filled him with tremendous pride. He is also survived by brother-in-law Gerald Simons and sister-in-law Connie McKeown (Bradley), many nieces and nephews, and a legion of lifelong friends who will miss him tremendously.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date in the Chicago area. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Hope Hospice at Hope Development Department, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908 or to The Harry Chapin Food Bank, 3760 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL 33901.